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Improved osteoblast cell affinity on plasma-modified 3-D extruded PCL scaffolds
M Domingos1, F Intranuovo, A Gloria
1Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal.
Acta Biomaterialia
|January 15, 2013
Summary
This study demonstrates bioextrusion for creating polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with controlled micro-architecture. Plasma coatings enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation within these scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Cellular adhesion and proliferation in synthetic scaffolds are crucial for tissue engineering.
- Scaffold internal architecture significantly influences cellular response.
- Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a common biomaterial, but its surface properties often require modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with controlled micro-architecture using bioextrusion.
- To investigate the effect of plasma-deposited nitrogen-based coatings on scaffold properties and cellular response.
- To enhance cell adhesion and proliferation within PCL scaffolds for improved tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Bioextrusion technique for fabricating PCL scaffolds with defined micro-architecture.
- Low-pressure nitrogen-based plasma deposition for surface modification.
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for analyzing surface composition and uniformity.
- In vitro biological assays using Saos-2 osteoblast cells.
Main Results:
- Bioextrusion successfully produced PCL scaffolds with controlled micro-architecture.
- Plasma deposition resulted in a uniform distribution of nitrogen-containing groups throughout the scaffold pores.
- Plasma-treated scaffolds showed significantly enhanced Saos-2 osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation.
- Mechanical properties of the PCL scaffolds remained unaltered after plasma treatment.
Conclusions:
- Bioextrusion is an effective method for creating advanced PCL scaffolds for tissue engineering.
- Plasma-deposited nitrogen coatings uniformly functionalize the porous scaffold structure.
- Surface modification via plasma deposition promotes homogeneous cellular colonization and is a promising strategy for enhancing scaffold performance in tissue engineering.
