Recent advances in biomaterials for tissue-engineered constructs: Essential factors and engineering techniques

Tissue-engineered constructs can replicate the structural and physiological properties of natural tissues. The constructs can be designed to address the transplantation issues affected by the shortage of donor tissues and organs. One of the major concerns in tissue engineering is the design and development of structures that improve the interaction between materials and cells and provide an ideal platform for cells to form functional tissue. Several contributing factors need to be considered to design and fabricate the constructs, including biomaterials, biological, topographical, biophysical, and morphological factors either alone or in combination. Here, we review the application, advancement, and future directions of these essential factors in designing and developing constructs for tissue regeneration. In particular, we focus on original approaches and engineering tools to design construct parameters in tissue engineering.