Table 1.
Surface area | Crucial for cell–scaffold interactions, facilitating vascularization and tissue infiltration | [54] |
Macroporosity might promote osteogenesis by facilitating cell and ion transport | [58] | |
Microporosity improves surface area for protein adsorption, increasing ionic solubility and attachment points for osteoblasts | [58] | |
Pore size | Pores > 300 µm facilitate new bone formation and vascularization | [54] |
75–100 µm pore size is thought to promote angiogenesis | [6] | |
Pore size range from 200 to 500 μm results in optimal tissue penetration vascularization in vivo | [6,21] | |
Pore interconnectivity |
Enhanced bone deposition rate and depth of infiltration | [58] |
Optimal diameter of connections between pores ranges from 700–1200 µm | [54,59] | |
Surface topology | Roughened surfaces promote osteointegration and favor epithelial attachment | [61] |
Mechanical properties |
Young’s modulus should be close to 7–30 GPa and a tensile strength of 50–151 MPa | [62] |
Compressive strength should be comparable to cortical bone (100–230 MPa) | [62] | |
Degradation rate should match the growth of native ECM to ensure scaffold mechanical support | [21,44] |