Bionic electrospun ultrafine fibrous poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds with a multi-scale structure

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Tissue engineering scaffolds aim to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM).
• Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biodegradable polymer frequently used in biomedical applications.
• Controlling scaffold architecture at multiple scales is crucial for effective tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate PLLA tissue engineering scaffolds with controllable architectures and porous inner structures.
• To mimic the natural ECM using specifically designed conductive patterned templates.
• To investigate the formation of semi-hollow PLLA fibers with porous microstructures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a single capillary electrospinning technique with a homogeneous polymer-solvent-nonsolvent system (PLLA, CH(2)Cl(2), and DMF).
• Controlled the ratio of dimethylformamide (DMF) and methylene chloride (CH(2)Cl(2)) to influence fiber microstructure.
• Employed conductive patterned templates as fiber collectors to achieve specific 3D architectures.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated PLLA scaffolds with semi-hollow fibers exhibiting porous inner structures and compact shell walls.
• Demonstrated that phase separation is the key mechanism for the formation of the observed microstructure.
• Manufactured PLLA ultrafine fibrous scaffolds with controlled 3D architectures using patterned collectors.

Conclusions:

• Developed multi-scale biodegradable fibrous scaffolds with specific micro- and macro-architectures.
• The fabricated scaffolds show potential for better mimicking the natural ECM in tissue engineering applications.
• This approach offers a promising method for creating advanced scaffolds for regenerative medicine.