Influence of scaffold deformation and fluidmechanical stimuli on bone tissue differentiation

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) offers a promising alternative to graft surgeriesby facilitating bone regeneration through temporary scaffolds that support celladhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Effective scaffold design is critical, asit must transmit mechanical and fluid stimuli to guide tissue formation. In thisstudy, in silico models were developed to evaluate how various scaffold archi-tectures influence mechanical stimulation and fluid-induced shear stress at thecellular level. Nine scaffold configurations with cylindrical or spherical pores andporosities of 60%, 70%, and 80% were analyzed under static and dynamic com-pression, as well as steady and transient fluid flow. Fluid–structure interaction(FSI) simulations were used to compute octahedral shear strain (SS) and fluidshear stress (FSS), capturing the interplay between scaffold deformation andperfusion. Results indicated that high-porosity scaffolds, particularly the C80configuration, under low compression and slow perfusion, promoted bone differ-entiation while limiting cartilage and fibrous tissue formation. Models neglectingscaffold-fluid coupling overestimated bone formation potential, underscoring theimportance of FSI in replicating physiological conditions. This modeling approachprovides insights for improving BTE strategies and designing more effectivescaffolds for bone repair.