Poly(propylene fumarate) Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Innovation in Fabrication Techniques and Artificial Intelligence Integration

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 17; no. 9; p. 1212
• Main Authors: Necolau, Madalina I., Ionita, Mariana, Pandele, Andreea M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28.04.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Artificial intelligence; Biocompatibility; Biodegradation; Biomedical materials; Bones; Carbon; Controllability; Crosslinking; Data management; Degradation; Design specifications; Effectiveness; Extracellular matrix; Health care; Innovations; Machine learning; Management systems; Mechanical properties; Medical equipment; Medical technology; Morphology; Polymerization; Polymers; Polypropylene fumarate; Propylene; Regeneration (physiology); Review; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering; tissue engineering; composite scaffolds; artificial intelligence; poly(propylene fumarate)
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym17091212

Over the past three decades, the biodegradable polymer known as poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) has been the subject of numerous research due to its unique properties. Its biocompatibility and controllable mechanical properties have encouraged numerous scientists to manufacture and produce a wide range of PPF-based materials for biomedical purposes. Additionally, the ability to tailor the degradation rate of the scaffold material to match the rate of new bone tissue formation is particularly relevant in bone tissue engineering, where synchronized degradation and tissue regeneration are critical for effective healing. This review thoroughly summarizes the advancements in different approaches for PPF and PPF-based composite scaffold preparation for bone tissue engineering. Additionally, the challenges faced by each approach, such as biocompatibility, degradation, mechanical features, and crosslinking, were emphasized, and the noteworthy benefits of the most pertinent synthesis strategies were highlighted. Furthermore, the synergistic outcome between tissue engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) was addressed, along with the advantages brought by the implication of machine learning (ML) as well as the revolutionary impact on regenerative medicines. Future advances in bone tissue engineering could be facilitated by the enormous potential for individualized and successful regenerative treatments that arise from the combination of tissue engineering and artificial intelligence. By assessing a patient’s reaction to a certain drug and choosing the best course of action depending on the patient’s genetic and clinical characteristics, AI can also assist in the treatment of illnesses. AI is also used in drug research and discovery, target identification, clinical trial design, and predicting the safety and effectiveness of novel medications. Still, there are ethical issues including data protection and the requirement for reliable data management systems. AI adoption in the healthcare sector is expensive, involving staff and facility investments as well as training healthcare professionals on its application.