Porous scaffolds of biodegradable polymers and biomimetic matrices play an important role in controlling cell functions and guiding new tissue regeneration. Many biodegradable synthetic polymers such as PLLA and PLGA and naturally derived polymers such as collagen and gelatin have been used to prepare porous scaffolds. Cell-derived extracellular matrices have also been frequently used to prepare biomimetic scaffolds. We have developed a few types of porous scaffolds by using biodegradable polymers and extracellular matrices. The first type is porous scaffolds prepared with ice particulates. Funnel-like porous scaffolds were prepared by using ice particulates as a template and had a unique pore structure with large open pores on the top surface that communicated with interconnected inner bulk small pores. The second type is composite scaffolds of synthetic polymers and naturally-derived polymers. The composite scaffolds were prepared by forming collagen sponge or microsponges in the openings of porous skeletons of mechanically strong synthetic polymers. PLGA-collagen composite mesh, PLGA-collagen composite sponge and cylinder-type PLLA-collagen composite scaffolds were prepared by this hybridization method and used for 3D culture of chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering. The composite scaffolds combined the advantages of both types of polymers. The third type is biomimetic ECM scaffolds prepared from cultured cells. The ECM scaffold composition was dependent on the cell type and cell phenotype that were used to prepare the scaffolds. Furthermore, multi-functional composite scaffolds of biodegradable polymers and photothermal nanoparticles such as black phosphorus nanosheets and gold nanoparticles were prepared by incorporating photothermal nanoparticles in the porous polymer matrices. The composite scaffolds showed high photothermal conversion efficiency. The excellent photothermal performance of composite scaffolds was used for photothermal ablation of breast tumor cells. In vitro cell culture and in vivo animal experiment showed that the composite scaffolds could effectively kill breast tumor cells. The composite scaffolds could also promote adhesion, proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs. The results demonstrated that the composite photothermal scaffolds had multi-functions for both photothermal ablation of breast tumor and regeneration of adipose tissue.