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3D- Printed Poly(ε-caprolactone) Scaffold Integrated with Cell-laden Chitosan Hydrogels for Bone Tissue Engineering
Liang Dong1, Shao-Jie Wang2,3, Xin-Rong Zhao4
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200093, P.R. China.
Scientific Reports
|October 19, 2017
Summary
This study developed a chitosan/poly(ε-caprolactone) hybrid scaffold for bone tissue engineering. The hybrid scaffold enhances cell delivery and osteogenic differentiation, showing promise for bone regeneration applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Synthetic polymeric scaffolds like poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) are used in bone tissue engineering (BTE) but suffer from hydrophobicity and lack cell recognition sites.
- Improving cell seeding efficiency and osteoinductivity is crucial for effective BTE applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an injectable, thermo-sensitive chitosan hydrogel (CSG)/PCL hybrid scaffold for enhanced BTE.
- To evaluate the feasibility of this hybrid system for delivering cells and growth factors for bone regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of CSG into 3D-printed PCL scaffolds to create a hybrid system.
- Encapsulation of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) within the CSG component.
- Assessment of cell proliferation, viability, osteogenic gene expression (RT-PCR), growth factor release, and mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- The CCK-8 assay demonstrated significantly greater cell retention and proliferation in chitosan and hybrid scaffolds compared to controls.
- Confocal microscopy confirmed an even distribution of cells within the hybrid scaffold.
- BMMSCs cultured in hybrid and chitosan scaffolds exhibited enhanced osteogenesis and bone-matrix formation after 2 weeks in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan/PCL hybrid scaffolds represent a promising platform for BTE.
- These scaffolds effectively support cell delivery and drug loading, exhibiting excellent mechanical strength and promoting osteogenic differentiation.