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Postproduction Processing of Electrospun Fibres for Tissue Engineering
Published on: August 9, 2012
Functionally graded electrospun polycaprolactone and beta-tricalcium phosphate nanocomposites for tissue engineering
Cevat Erisken1, Dilhan M Kalyon, Hongjun Wang
1Chemical, Biomedical and Materials Engineering Department, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.
Biomaterials
|July 25, 2008
Summary
Researchers developed a novel hybrid twin-screw extrusion/electrospinning process to create advanced biodegradable polymer scaffolds. These functionally graded scaffolds mimic native tissue by controlling nanoparticle distribution, showing promise for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Creating functionally graded scaffolds from biodegradable polymers is crucial for mimicking native tissue.
- Existing methods face challenges in precisely controlling material composition and structure within scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the fabrication and utilization of functionally graded scaffolds using a novel hybrid process.
- To control the concentration of tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles within polycaprolactone scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid twin-screw extrusion/electrospinning (TSEE) process was developed for scaffold fabrication.
- The TSEE process allowed time-dependent feeding and integration of polycaprolactone and tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles.
- Functionally graded scaffolds were cultured with mouse preosteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1).
Main Results:
- The hybrid TSEE method successfully created scaffolds with controlled gradients of tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles.
- Cultured tissue constructs showed extracellular matrix formation, collagen synthesis, and mineralization gradients.
- These gradients mimicked the bone-cartilage interface in terms of calcium distribution and mechanical properties.
Conclusions:
- The hybrid TSEE process offers enhanced control over ingredient distribution in tissue engineering scaffolds.
- This method enables precise tailoring of porosity, mechanical properties, and biodegradation rates.
- The technology holds significant potential for creating biomimetic scaffolds for regenerative medicine.
