title: Microrobotics and MEMS-based fabrication techniques for scaffold-based tissue engineering.
abstract: Scaffold based tissue engineering strategies use cells, biomolecules and a scaffold to promote the repair and regeneration of tissues. Although scaffold-based tissue engineering approaches are being actively developed, most are still experimental, and it is not yet clear what defines an ideal scaffold/cell construct. Solid free form fabrication (SFF) techniques can precisely control matrix architecture (size, shape, interconnectivity, branching, geometry and orientation). The SFF methods enable the fabrication of scaffolds with various designs and material compositions, thus providing a control of mechanical properties, biological effects and degradation kinetics. This paper reviews the application of micro-robotics and MEMS-based fabrication techniques for scaffold design and fabrication. It also presents a novel robotic technique to fabricate scaffold/cell constructs for tissue engineering by the assembly of microscopic building blocks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 119260, Singapore.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dietmar W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hutmacher
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chollet
authors.forename: Aun Neow
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Poo
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burdet
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D012371:Robotics; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials