Skip to main content
. 2014 Jul 17;3:61–102. doi: 10.1007/s40204-014-0026-7

Table 6.

Advantages and disadvantages of different scaffolding biomaterials in bone tissue engineering (Chen 2007)

Biomaterials Advantages Disadvantages

Naturally derived biopolymers:

 Collagen

 Chitosan

Low toxicity;

Good biocompatibility;

Bioactive;

Biodegradability

Low mechanical, thermal and chemical stability;

Possibility of immunogenic response

Synthetic polymers

 Poly(lactic acid)

 Poly(glycolic acid)

 Poly(caprolactone)

 Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)

Good biocompatibility;

Biodegradability;

Bioresorbability;

Good processability;

Good ductility

Inflammatory caused by acid degradation products;

Limited mechanical property;

Slow biodegradability

Synthetic elastomers

 Poly(glycerolsebacate)

 (chemically crosslinked)

Soft elasticity;

Good in vivo biocompatibility

with mild foreign responses;

Tuneable degradability

Degrade too fast;

Mild cytotoxicity

Calcium phosphates

(e.g. HA, TCP and related calcium phosphate)

Excellent biocompatibility;

Supporting cell activity;

Good osteoconductivity;

Brittle;

Slow biodegradation in the

crystalline phase
Bioactive silicate glasses

Excellent biocompatibility;

Supporting cell activity;

Good osteoconductivity;

Vascularisation;

Rapid gene expression;

Tailorable degradation rate

 Brittle and weak

Composites

(containing bioactive phases)

Excellent biocompatibility;

Supporting cell activity;

Good osteoconductivity;

Tailorable degradation rate;

Improved mechanical properties

Still not as good as natural

bone matrix;

Complex fabrication