Sacrificial biomaterials in 3D fabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology has progressed exceedingly in the area of tissue engineering. Despite the tremendous potential of 3D printing, building scaffolds with complex 3D structure, especially with soft materials, still exist as a challenge due to the low mechanical strength of the materials. Recently, sacrificial materials have emerged as a possible solution to address this issue, as they could serve as temporary support or templates to fabricate scaffolds with intricate geometries, porous structures, and interconnected channels without deformation or collapse. Here, we outline the various types of scaffold biomaterials with sacrificial materials, their pros and cons, and mechanisms behind the sacrificial material removal, compare the manufacturing methods such as salt leaching, electrospinning, injection‐molding, bioprinting with advantages and disadvantages, and discuss how sacrificial materials could be applied in tissue‐specific applications to achieve desired structures. We finally conclude with future challenges and potential research directions.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Hydrogels for Flexible Sensors: A Review

“…To comprehend the practicality of electrically conductive hydrogels in flexible electronics, conventional casting, and templating techniques are commonly employed to generate suitable structures [ 16 ]. However, the reliance on molds, dies, or masks in these procedures restricts customization, resulting in the production of only basic 3D structures [ 17 ]. Additionally, the gelation method entails an enormous amount of liquid precursors for in situ solidification leading to a substantial loss of energy and resources.…”