Multiscale Biomechanical Characterization of Bioceramic Bone Scaffolds

An important idea in bone tissue engineering is the creation of porous 3D bioceramic bone scaffolds,which are implanted into the defect site to provide mechanical and biological functions facilitating integration with surrounding bone. A scaffold structure should be able to support and stimulate new bone ingrowth and become completely integrated into the native tissue. Porous scaffolds can either induce formation of bone from the surrounding tissue or act as a carrier or template for implanted bone cells. In addition, scaffolds are required to meet several criteria, such as architectural features, structural mechanics, mass transport, surface properties, degradation products, and cell-material interaction properties. Micro and nanostructural properties of scaffolds dictate the capacity to induce bone formation; thus, biomechanical properties should be evaluated at multiple scales before implantation. Therefore, this chapter explains how to perform multiscale (i.e., macro, micro, and nano) biomechanical characterization of bioceramic bone scaffolds, as well as how to analyze, present, and interpret results.