Biomaterials for tissue engineering scaffolds: Balancing efficiency and eco-friendliness through life cycle assessment

Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field for regenerative medicine, aiming to develop biomimetic scaffolds that can have significant implications for reducing environmental impact across various aspects of medical research. This research presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the synthesis and characterization of biomaterials of Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA) filled with Aramid Nanofiber (ANFs) for tissue engineering scaffolds using Digital Light Processing (DLP). The present research introduces a novel approach by integrating LCA principles to evaluate the environmental impact of the developed biomaterials. It was conducted using Life Cycle Assessment For Experts (LCA FE) software following the ISO 14040 and 14044 requirements. The research systematically analyzes the eco-friendliness of the PEGDA/ANFs scaffolds, considering the system boundary from cradle to gate, materials extraction, and fabrication processes. Besides, this research also aims to contribute to the development of sustainable biomaterials for tissue engineering applications by achieving a careful balance between scaffold performance and ecological considerations. The findings present the environmental impact categories that are considered in LCA, among which are global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), and human toxicity potential (HTP). The highest contribution to the fabrication of PEGDA/ANFs for 3D tissue engineering scaffolds comes from GWP. The research also provides insights into optimizing biomaterial design by considering both efficiencies in tissue regeneration and environmental impact, promoting the development of greener practices in regenerative medicine.