Optimal matrix size for analysis of tissue engineering scaffold stiffness: A finite element study

This study aimed to investigate the optimal matrix size of scaffold that response of smaller matrix is comparable to the response of the greater matrix, using finite element analysis. The analysis was based on the open-cellular truncated octahedron. Eight scaffold matrix sizes were evaluated which were lxlxl (single cell), 2×2×2 (8 cells), 3×3×3 (27 cells), 4×4×4 (64 cells), 5×5×5 (125 cells), 6×6×6 (216 cells), 7×7×7 (343 cells) and 8×8×8 (512 cells). From the result, it has revealed that smaller matrix exhibited the lower stiffness than the larger matrix. In addition, the percentage of relative change of scaffold stiffness was relatively steady at large matrix size. The conclusion can be drawn that the optimal matrix size was 6×6×6.