Fabrication of Micro/Nanofibrous Scaffolds using a Robotic Manipulator and Their Application for Tissue Engineering

Abstract Background: Nanofibrous materials currently find a wide range of medical and bioengineering applications including tissue-engineering scaffolds, sutures, and wound dressings. Recently, production of nanofibrous materials via Electrospinning has played a dominant role in this area. Here we introduce an alternative method, which we call the drawing method, which allows us to produce individual micro and nanofibers and to position them precisely into a two-dimensional network. Results: The creation of such nano or micro fibrous networks is enabled thanks to a special arm-like robotic manipulator that we have designed, including its control system software. In this work we produced and tested microfibrous scaffolds of precise geometry made of two different biodegradable polymers: Polycaprolactone and Polylactide – Polycaprolactone copolymer. The microfibrous networks produced thereby were analyzed using a scanning electronic microscope and tested in vitro for cell adhesion and proliferation. The crystallinity of the resulting manufactured polymeric structures was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry. Conclusions: The mechanical drawing of individual microfibers presented in this article is a promising method to produce precisely oriented nano and microfibrous structures for technical as well as bioengineering applications. Our results indicate that the mechanical drawing of microfibers expands the possibilities for the preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds. Therefore, we believe that the range of applications of mechanical fiber drawing may soon expand.

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In Vitro Examination of Poly(glycerol sebacate) Degradation Kinetics: Effects of Porosity and Cure Temperature

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2014.68 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1621 ◽

pp. 87-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadia M. Krook ◽

Courtney LeBlon ◽

Sabrina S. Jedlicka

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Applications ◽

Degradation Kinetics ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

Degradation Study ◽

Wide Range ◽

Thermal Changes ◽

Cure Temperature

ABSTRACTPoly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a biodegradable and biocompatible elastomer that has been used in a wide range of biomedical applications. While a porous format is common for tissue engineering scaffolds, to allow cell ingrowth, PGS degradation has been primarily studied in a nonporous format. The purpose of this research was to investigate the degradation of porous PGS at three frequently used cure temperatures: 120°C, 140°C, and 165°C. The thermal, chemical, mechanical, and morphological changes were examined using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, compression testing, and scanning electron microscopy. Over the course of the 16-week degradation study, the samples’ pores collapsed. The specimens cured at 120°C demonstrated the most degradation and became gel-like after 16 weeks. Thermal changes were most evident in the 120°C and 140°C cure PGS specimens, as shifts in the melting and recrystallization temperatures occurred. Porous samples cured at all three temperatures displayed a decrease in compressive modulus after 16 weeks. This in vitro study helped to elucidate the effects of porosity and cure temperature on the biodegradation of PGS and will be valuable for the design of future PGS scaffolds.

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Fabrication, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity of Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Poly(lactic acid) Material Using Human Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Stem Cells (hASCs)

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym10101073 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1073 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Anna Lis-Bartos ◽

Agnieszka Smieszek ◽

Kinga Frańczyk ◽

Krzysztof Marycz

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Tensile Tests ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Casting Technique ◽

Wide Range

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and poly(lactic acid) are types of biocompatible and degradable synthetic polymers required for biomedical applications. Physically blended (TPU+PLA) tissue engineering matrices were produced via solvent casting technique. The following types of polymer blend were prepared: (TPU+PLA) 7:3, (TPU+PLA) 6:4, (TPU+PLA) 4:6, and (TPU+PLA) 3:7. Various methods were employed to characterize the properties of these polymers: surface properties such as morphology (scanning electron microscopy), wettability (goniometry), and roughness (profilometric analysis). Analyses of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the obtained polymer blends were conducted. Tensile tests demonstrated that the blends exhibited a wide range of mechanical properties. Cytotoxicity of polymers was tested using human multipotent stromal cells derived from adipose tissue (hASC). In vitro assays revealed that (TPU+PLA) 3:7 matrices were the most cytocompatible biomaterials. Cells cultured on (TPU+PLA) 3:7 had proper morphology, growth pattern, and were distinguished by increased proliferative and metabolic activity. Additionally, it appeared that (TPU+PLA) 3:7 biomaterials showed antiapoptotic properties. hASC cultured on these matrices had reduced expression of Bax-α and increased expression of Bcl-2. This study demonstrated the feasibility of producing a biocompatible scaffold form based on (TPU+PLA) blends that have potential to be applied in tissue engineering.

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Synthetic biodegradable elastomers for drug delivery and tissue engineering

Pure and Applied Chemistry ◽

10.1351/pac-con-10-08-18 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 83 (1) ◽

pp. 9-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Christopher J. Bettinger

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Tissue Engineering ◽

Clinical Applications ◽

Materials Synthesis ◽

Processing Property ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

Wide Range ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Engineered Substrates

Synthetic biodegradable elastomers are an emerging class of materials with many potential clinical applications including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Biodegradable elastomers offer advantages of structure diversity, tunable properties, and a wide range of processing capabilities. This review highlights some recent developments in various aspects of biodegradable materials synthesis, characterization, and processing with a specific focus on structure-processing–property relationships. Biodegradation mechanisms and issues regarding tissue biocompatibility of these materials are discussed. Applications of synthetic biodegradable elastomers, including use as a materials platform for controlled release systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, and engineered substrates for in vitro cell–biomaterials interactions will also be presented.

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Conductive nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering

Izvestiya of Saratov University New series Series Physics ◽

10.18500/1817-3020-2021-21-1-48-57 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 48-57

Author(s):

Ekaterina V. Lengert ◽

◽

Anton M. Pavlov ◽

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Cell Types ◽

Target Tissue ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

Nonwoven Materials ◽

Nanofibrous Scaffolds ◽

Dimensional Network ◽

Physical And Chemical

One of very demanded and actively developed areas of modern biomedicine is tissue engineering, investigating synthesis and reparation of various kinds of tissues, including trauma treatment. Normally cells in tissue grow in the microenvironment provided by exttacellular matrix – a three-dimensional network of macromolecules, mostly peptides and proteins, that provide structural and biochemical support. To substitute this matrix in medical applications and promote new cells growth and repair damaged tissue, various types of artificial scaffolds are proposed. Morphology, as well as physical and chemical properties of scaffolds influence the fate of cells, including attachment, proliferation and differentiation, and strongly correlate with the type of target tissue. This review is aimed to provide a short insight in materials and technologies for synthesis of tissue engineering scaffolds, with focus on polymeric electrospun nonwoven materials and ones with conductive structures that can be potentially used to direct electrical signals to cells for the aims of electrostimulation, which was demonstrated to induce functional repairmen of certain cell types such as myocytes and neurons.

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Novel tissue engineering scaffolds as wound dressings loaded with Alkannins/Shikonins as active ingredients

10.1055/s-0039-3400068 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

AS Arampatzis ◽

K Theodoridis ◽

E Aggelidou ◽

KN Kontogiannopoulos ◽

I Tsivintzelis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Active Ingredients ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

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Biotemplated Syntheses of Macroporous Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds and Experiments in Vitro and Vivo

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces ◽

10.1021/am400779e ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (12) ◽

pp. 5557-5562 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Xing Li ◽

Yayun Zhao ◽

Yue Bing ◽

Yaping Li ◽

Ning Gan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

Macroporous Materials

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In vitro evaluation of novel bioactive composites based on Bioglass®‐filled polylactide foams for bone tissue engineering scaffolds

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A ◽

10.1002/jbm.a.20055 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 67A (4) ◽

pp. 1401-1411 ◽

Cited By ~ 155

Author(s):

J. J. Blaker ◽

J. E. Gough ◽

V. Maquet ◽

I. Notingher ◽

A. R. Boccaccini

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

In Vitro Evaluation ◽

Bioactive Composites

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The effect of silk gland sericin protein incorporation into electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers on in vitro and in vivo characteristics

Journal of Materials Chemistry B ◽

10.1039/c4tb00653d ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 859-870 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Linhao Li ◽

Yuna Qian ◽

Chongwen Lin ◽

Haibin Li ◽

Chao Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Silk Gland ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Nanofibrous Scaffolds ◽

Protein Incorporation

Silk middle gland extracted sericin protein based electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds with excellent biocompatibility have been developed for tissue engineering applications.

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Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Release Kinetics of Vancomycin Carried β-TCP/Chitosan Composite Microspheres Used as Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.512-515.1821 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 512-515 ◽

pp. 1821-1825

Author(s):

Lin Zhang ◽

Xue Min Cui ◽

Qing Feng Zan ◽

Li Min Dong ◽

Chen Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Release Kinetics ◽

In Vitro Release ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds ◽

Composite Microspheres ◽

Chitosan Composite ◽

Vitro Release

A novel microsphere scaffolds composed of chitosan and β-TCP containing vancomycin was designed and prepared. The β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres were prepared by solid-in-water-in-oil (s/w/o) emulsion cross-linking method with or without pre-cross-linking process. The mode of vancomycin maintaining in the β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro release curve of vancomycin in simulated body fluid (SBF) was estimated. The results revealed that the pre-cross-linking prepared microspheres possessed higher loading efficiency (LE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) especially decreasing the previous burst mass of vancomycin in incipient release. These composite microspheres got excellent sphere and well surface roughness in morphology. Vancomycin was encapsulated in composite microspheres through absorption and cross-linking. While in-vitro release curves illustrated that vancomycin release depond on diffusing firstly and then on the degradation ratio later. The microspheres loading with vancomycin would be to restore bone defect, meanwhile to inhibit bacterium proliferation. These bioactive, degradable composite microspheres have potential applications in 3D tissue engineering of bone and other tissues in vitro and in vivo.

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