Strategy Based on Michael Addition Reaction for the Development of Bioinspired Multilayered and Multiphasic 3D...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Osteochondral defects are common, driving demand for advanced repair strategies.
• Tissue engineering offers a promising avenue for regenerating complex osteochondral tissues.
• Current approaches necessitate biomimetic scaffolds that replicate native tissue architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a multilayered, multiphasic 3D macroporous scaffold for osteochondral tissue repair.
• To utilize a green, subzero temperature approach for scaffold fabrication.
• To incorporate tunable properties for optimized regenerative potential.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multilayered scaffold via Michael addition reaction between collagen and poly(ε-caprolactone) at subzero temperatures.
• Incorporation of polyethylenimine-functionalized nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp_LPEI) into the scaffold's bottom layer.
• Characterization of scaffold properties including morphology, swelling ratio, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility via MTS assay.

Main Results:

• The developed hybrid cryogels exhibited good stability, integrity, and biocompatibility.
• Scaffold properties, including Young's modulus (3.5–10.5 kPa for layers, >7.3 kPa for multilayered structures), swelling ratio (4.6–14.2), and pore size (74–230 µm), were tunable.
• The trilayered structure achieved an equilibrium swelling ratio of approximately 10.5.

Conclusions:

• A green, subzero temperature method successfully produced tunable, biomimetic multilayered scaffolds for osteochondral repair.
• The fabricated scaffolds demonstrate potential for tissue engineering due to their structural integrity and biocompatibility.
• The ability to tailor scaffold properties offers a versatile platform for addressing diverse osteochondral defect requirements.