Tissue Engineering Nanoclay Composite Scaffolds Composed of Poly-Glycerol Sebacate and Poly-Caprolactone

AbstractOver the last years, three-dimensional (3D) printing has been successfully applied to produce suitable substitutes for treating bone defects. In this work, 3D printed composite scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) and strontium (Sr)- and cobalt (Co)-doped multi-component melt-derived bioactive glasses (BGs) were prepared for bone tissue engineering strategies. For this purpose, 30% of as-prepared BG particles (size <38 μm) were incorporated into PCL, and then the obtained composite mix was introduced into a 3D printing machine to fabricate layer-by-layer porous structures with the size of 12 × 12 × 2 mm3.The scaffolds were fully characterized through a series of physico-chemical and biological assays. Adding the BGs to PCL led to an improvement in the compressive strength of the fabricated scaffolds and increased their hydrophilicity. Furthermore, the PCL/BG scaffolds showed apatite-forming ability (i.e., bioactivity behavior) after being immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The in vitro cellular examinations revealed the cytocompatibility of the scaffolds and confirmed them as suitable substrates for the adhesion and proliferation of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. In conclusion, 3D printed composite scaffolds made of PCL and Sr- and Co-doped BGs might be potentially-beneficial bone replacements, and the achieved results motivate further research on these materials.

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A Proposed Fabrication Method of Novel PCL-GEL-HAp Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Advanced Composites Letters ◽

10.1177/096369351001900401 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 096369351001900 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

A. Hamlekhan ◽

M. Mozafari ◽

N. Nezafati ◽

M. Azami ◽

H. Hadipour

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Mechanical Test ◽

Fibroblast Cell ◽

Mouse Fibroblast ◽

Fabrication Method ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Poly Caprolactone

In this study, poly(∊-caprolactone) (PCL), gelatin (GEL) and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) was applied to fabricate novel PCL-GEL-HAp nanaocomposite scaffolds through a new fabrication method. With the aim of finding the best fabrication method, after testing different methods and solvents, the best method and solvents were found, and the nanocomposites were prepared through layer solvent casting combined with freeze-drying. Acetone and distillated water were used as the PCL and GEL solvents, respectively. The mechanical test showed that the increasing of the PCL weight through the scaffolds caused the improvement of the final nanocomposite mechanical behavior due to the increasing of the ultimate stress, stiffness and elastic modulus (8 MPa for 0% wt PCL to 23.5 MPa for 50% wt PCL). The biomineralization investigation of the scaffolds revealed the formation of bone-like apatite layers after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). In addition, the in vitro cytotoxity of the scaffolds using L929 mouse fibroblast cell line (ATCC) indicated no sign of toxicity. These results indicated that the fabricated scaffold possesses the prerequisites for bone tissue engineering applications.

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Structure and Properties of Poly(α-hydroxyl acids)/Nano Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-735-c11.37 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 735 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guobao Wei ◽

Peter X. Ma

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Pore Structure ◽

The Body ◽

Polymer Scaffolds ◽

Composite Scaffolds ◽

Average Pore ◽

Thermally Induced ◽

Tissue Engineering Approach ◽

Biodegradable Poly ◽

Organ Failures

ABSTRACTTissue losses and organ failures resulting from injuries or diseases remain frequent and serious health problems despite great advances in medical technologies. Transplantation and reconstructive surgeries are seriously challenged by donor tissue shortage. We take a tissue engineering approach to design 3D scaffolds for cells to grow and synthesize new tissues. The scaffolds are biodegradable and will be absorbed after fulfilling the purpose as 3D templates, leaving nothing foreign in the body. To better mimic natural bone structurally, mechanically and biologically, nano-sized hydroxyapatite particles (N-HAP) were formulated with biodegradable poly(α-hydroxyl acids) to form composite scaffolds with well-controlled pore structures using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) in this work. The pore structure and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were optimized by the use of multiple solvent systems, different quenching rates and quenching depths. The fabricated scaffolds possessed porosities higher than 90% and average pore sizes ranging from 50 to 500 μm. The scaffolds containing N-HAP maintained open and regular 3D pore structure similar to those of plain polymer scaffolds, implying that N-HAP particles were dispersed within the polymer pore walls of the scaffolds. The addition of N-HAP increased the compressive modulus by 20∼80% over that of plain polymer scaffolds. These results indicate that poly(α-hydroxyl acids)/N-HAP scaffolds may provide excellent 3D substrates for bone tissue engineering.

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