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Engineering calcium peroxide based oxygen generating scaffolds for tissue survival.
Sanika Suvarnapathaki1, Michelle A Nguyen, Anastasia A Goulopoulos
1Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
Biomaterials Science
|February 10, 2021
Summary
Oxygen-generating scaffolds using calcium peroxide (CaO2) and polycaprolactone (PCL) improve cell survival in tissue engineering. These novel biomaterials provide a sustained oxygen supply, overcoming hypoxia challenges during construct development.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Oxygen supply is critical for engineered tissues but host vascularization takes weeks, leading to cell death from hypoxia.
- Current tissue constructs face oxygen deprivation, cellular dysfunction, and necrosis during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate oxygen-generating scaffolds using calcium peroxide (CaO2) and polycaprolactone (PCL) to sustain cell viability.
- To investigate the physiochemical properties and oxygen release kinetics of these novel biomaterials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds loaded with varying concentrations of calcium peroxide (CaO2).
- In vitro assessment of oxygen release, mechanical properties, swelling, and degradation over 35 days.
- Encapsulation of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, L6 rat myoblasts, and cardiac fibroblasts to evaluate cell survival, proliferation, and function under hypoxic conditions.
Main Results:
- Scaffolds demonstrated predictable oxygen release, achieving 5%–29% dissolved oxygen with increasing CaO2 loading.
- Mechanical strength ranged from 5–20 kPa, with controlled swelling (22%–33%) and degradation rates.
- Encapsulated cells showed enhanced survival, proliferation, and function under hypoxia, with scaffolds maintaining a stable pH (8–9).
Conclusions:
- Oxygen-generating scaffolds offer a promising solution to overcome hypoxia in tissue engineering.
- These CaO2-PCL biomaterials support cell viability and function, paving the way for clinically translatable tissue constructs.
