Table 3.

Scaffold properties linked to mechanical and biological factors.

Scaffold	Mechanical factors	biological factors
Porosity	Negative correlation. Increased porosity leads to decreased mechanical properties.	Positive correlation. Increased porosity improves biological activity, including cell growth and the transport and distribution of nutrients.
Surface area	Negative correlation. Increased surface area leads to faster degradation of scaffolds.	Positive correlation. Increased surface area can increase initial adhesion of cells.
Elastic modulus	Positive correlation. The increased elastic modulus makes the scaffold stronger and avoids undue deformation.	Changes in elastic modulus lead to different mechanical stimuli, which in turn alter tissue growth rate and type.