CHAPTER 7: Multi-Functional Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering

Driven by a shortage of bone tissue for transplantation along with an aging population, the field of bone tissue engineering has undergone intense development over the past decades to fabricate new and functional bone tissue by incorporating cells within a matrix or scaffold. In this chapter, we highlight how biomaterial advances have greatly impacted bone tissue engineering through their application in scaffolds. In particular, we describe how scaffolds have transitioned from only providing structural support to delivering biofunctional molecules to accelerate bone tissue healing, integration and vascularization, and even to act as theranostic platforms to aid clinical decisions regarding subsequent procedures. This pioneering work has brought exciting and promising opportunities to improve the clinical outcomes of patients suffering from bone defects in the future.