Reliable laser fabrication: the quest for responsive biomaterials surface

Laser techniques have been traditionally used for material processing. Currently, there is growing recognition that lasers are a reliable fabrication tool that can be used to tailor the surfaces of biomaterials for tissue-engineering applications. Herein, we review the use of selected lasers with a wide range of wavelengths and pulses. We present typical examples to illustrate the basic fabrication principles and significance of laser fabrication in tailoring biomaterial surfaces with different geometric features. We also discuss the tissue-engineering applications of laser-fabricated biomaterials; these biomaterial surfaces show promise in delivering physicochemical cues for hard and soft tissue reconstruction.