Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (4): 846-855.doi: 10.12307/2025.214

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Gradient artificial bone repair scaffold regulates skeletal system tissue repair and regeneration

Zhang Yu, Xu Ruian, Fang Lei, Li Longfei, Liu Shuyan, Ding Lingxue, Wang Yuexi, Guo Ziyan, Tian Feng, Xue Jiajia   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Advanced Elastomer Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China 
  • Received:2023-10-30 Accepted:2023-12-13 Online:2025-02-08 Published:2024-06-04
  • Contact: Xue Jiajia, MD, Professor, State Key Laboratory of Organic Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Advanced Elastomer Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  • About author:Zhang Yu, State Key Laboratory of Organic Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Advanced Elastomer Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  • Supported by:
    Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Organic and Inorganic Composites, No. oic-20221004 (to XJJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gradient artificial bone repair scaffolds can mimic unique anatomical features in musculoskeletal tissues, showing great potential for repairing injured musculoskeletal tissues.
OBJECTIVE: To review the latest research advances in gradient artificial bone repair scaffolds for tissue engineering in the musculoskeletal system and describe their advantages and fabrication strategies.
METHODS: The first author of the article searched the Web of Science and PubMed databases for articles published from 2000 to 2023 with search terms “gradient, bone regeneration, scaffold”. Finally, 76 papers were analyzed and summarized after the screening.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) As an important means of efficient and high-quality repair of skeletal system tissues, gradient artificial bone repair scaffolds are currently designed bionically for the natural gradient characteristics of bone tissue, bone-cartilage, and tendon-bone tissue. These scaffolds can mimic the extracellular matrix of native tissues to a certain extent in terms of structure and composition, thus promoting cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and regenerative recovery of damaged tissues to their native state. (2) Advanced manufacturing technology provides more possibilities for gradient artificial bone repair scaffold preparation: Gradient electrospun fiber scaffolds constructed by spatially differentiated fiber arrangement and loading of biologically active substances have been developed; gradient 3D printed scaffolds fabricated by layered stacking, graded porosity, and bio-3D printing technology; gradient hydrogel scaffolds fabricated by in-situ layered injections, simple layer-by-layer stacking, and freeze-drying method; and in addition, there are also scaffolds made by other modalities or multi-method coupling. These scaffolds have demonstrated good biocompatibility in vitro experiments, were able to accelerate tissue regeneration in small animal tests, and were observed to have significantly improved histological structure. (3) The currently developed gradient artificial bone repair scaffolds have problems such as mismatch of gradient scales, unclear material-tissue interactions, and side effects caused by degradation products, which need to be further optimized by combining the strengths of related disciplines and clinical needs in the future. 

Key words: gradient, scaffold, musculoskeletal system, advanced manufacturing, tissue regeneration, application strategy, bone tissue repair, electrospinning, hydroge, 3D printing 

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