New strategies for regeneration of load bearing bones

The regeneration of critical sized bone defects requires the application of a scaffold able to instruct cells towards new tissue formation and remodelling. In the case of load-bearing bone parts, the requirement of high mimicry of native tissue is even more crucial since bone-like mechanical competence is required, besides bone-like chemistry and extensive macro-porous architecture. This chapter highlights some of the most recent advances in materials science addressed to this specific issue; in particular, it is illustrated how nature can inspire biomedical engineers to develop new biomorphic devices with hierarchical structure that can pave the way to new-generation smart devices with outstanding functional properties.