4 - Computational design of tissue engineering scaffolds

Because production technologies for the fabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering are becoming more and more advanced and aim to increase the controllability of the design of the scaffold and the robustness of the outcome as well as to be able to more closely mimic the native tissue architecture, it is key that the effect of the production process on the structural and functional properties of the construct is well understood. Computational models that can describe these effects will become indispensable with the (bio) fabrication field moving toward the fabrication of complex, gradient 3D structures in terms of cells and materials. They can facilitate high-throughput screenings of novel bioink formulations to determine their printability, optimal shape, and biocompatibility in function of the printer setup used. In addition, computational modeling can help in optimizing the design of the hardware (e.g., nozzle geometry for bioprinting) to improve certain properties of the printed construct (e.g., cell survival). Finally, optimal postprocessing of the construct can be achieved in a bioreactor setting. Also, computer models can play a role in providing information and understanding. This chapter provides an overview of computational models that have been developed to address questions related to quantification and optimization of the scaffold design, the fabrication process, and the postprocessing of the fabricated scaffold.