Self-Searching Writing of Human-Organ-Scale Three-Dimensional Topographic Scaffolds with Shape Memory by...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing is common for scaffolds, but electrospinning excels at mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrous structures.
• Electrospinning's historical limitations include overcoming complex jet-field interactions and random motion for precise 3D scaffold construction.
• Existing methods struggle to produce large-scale, anatomically accurate scaffolds essential for organ repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrospinning method for fabricating geometrically complex 3D fibrous scaffolds.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional electrospinning for creating high-fidelity, large-scale scaffolds.
• To demonstrate the potential of these scaffolds in tissue engineering and beyond.

Main Methods:

• Utilized biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) for scaffold fabrication.
• Developed a novel 'autopilot polymer jet' process with field self-searching, inspired by silkworm cocoon spinning.
• Employed simulation-supported innovative writing strategies and electrospinning for precise pattern transfer.
• Incorporated excellent target recognition for pattern features ranging from 100s μm to 10s cm.

Main Results:

• Successfully constructed challenging 3D fibrous scaffolds mimicking human-organ scale structures (face, breast, nipple, vascular graft).
• Achieved exceptional shape memory and free-standing features in the fabricated scaffolds.
• Overcame intricate jet-field interactions, preserving high-fidelity template topographies.
• Demonstrated anatomical compatibility through 3D cell culture studies.

Conclusions:

• The novel electrospinning technique successfully creates complex, large-scale 3D fibrous scaffolds with high fidelity.
• This advancement overcomes century-old limitations of electrospinning, making it viable for 3D topographic scaffold construction.
• The developed scaffolds show potential for tissue engineering, organ repair, and other advanced applications.