Toward functional integration of 3D‐printed meniscal scaffolds: A materials‐driven systematic review of preclinical evidence and translational framework

Abstract

This systematic review highlights that the regenerative capabilities of 3D-printed meniscal scaffolds are primarily driven by the complex interplay between biomaterials, architecture, degradation kinetics and biological activation rather than by polymer selection alone. Scaffold performance in preclinical models appears to follow a dynamic trajectory, with early reductions in mechanical properties frequently followed by recovery associated with cell recruitment and ECM deposition. These observations reinforce the importance of designing constructs that provide initial mechanical competence whi