The market for tissue engineering scaffolds is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% through 2020.

A tissue engineering scaffold is a porous three-dimensional (3D) matrix that is seeded with cells and/or bioactive factors leading to growth of new tissue either in-vitro or in-vivo.  The new tissue is used to repair, replace and regenerate tissue damaged by disease, injury or congenital defect. Tissue engineering scaffolds act as a support for cells and guide their migration, adhesion, reproduction and differentiation, and also affect new tissue vascularization and the delivery of nutrients needed for cell proliferation and differentiation.

As shown in the table below, various materials, including polymers, glass, ceramics, and metals, have been introduced to manufacture tissue engineering scaffolds for hard (e.g., bone and cartilage) and soft tissues (e.g., skin, muscle and nerve).

R&D activities are not only focusing on material formulation but also on fabrication methods that are capable of producing scaffolds with the following characteristics: high porosity and pore interconnectivity, controlled pore size, biodegradability, biocompatibility, adequate cell adhesion and surface roughness, appropriate chemical and topographical surface properties, and good mechanical strength.

Processes commonly used to manufacture tissue engineering scaffolds include polymer foam replication, gas foaming, sol-gel casting, electrospinning, thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) and freeze drying. Fabrication technologies based on additive processes (e.g., 3-D printing, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, melt-extrusion, solution/slurry extrusion, and tissue/organ printing) have been attracting greater interest based on their ability to rapidly produce complex geometries. Among these technologies, 3-D printing is particularly promising due to its versatility in permitting computer-controlled construction of pores, surface roughness, and textured surfaces, all of which facilitate the growth of specific tissues. 

Tissue engineering scaffolds are emerging as a promising method to repair, augment and regenerate organ functionality. These scaffolds allow for the growth of new tissue from the patient’s own cells and therefore avoid problems related to adverse immune response, pathogen transmission and donor site morbidity. The market for tissue engineering scaffolds is estimated to be valued at $720 million in 2015 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% during the next five years. Bone repair currently accounts for approximately 65% of the market.

A representative list of relevant industry players involved in manufacturing and/or development of tissue engineering scaffolds is provided below.

Back to Main Topics

Keywords: tissue engineering, scaffold, hard tissue, soft tissue, bone repair, materials, market