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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Composite Scaffolds of Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Fibers for Temporally Controlled Release of Biomolecules
Published on: August 19, 2015
Biodegradable and 3D printable lysine functionalized polycaprolactone scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
Sonali S Naik1, Arun Torris2, Namita R Choudhury3
1Polymer Science and Engineering, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune-411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India; School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
This study introduces a green method to create enhanced polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE). Modified PCL scaffolds show improved cell adhesion and proliferation, with specific designs demonstrating superior in vitro performance.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Creating functional scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) is challenging due to limitations in replicating complex architectures and bioactivity in vitro.
- Existing manufacturing technologies struggle to produce porous frameworks with desired properties for TE applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a green synthesis approach for modified polycaprolactone (PCL) with enhanced bioactivity for TE.
- To investigate the impact of scaffold morphology, porosity, and geometry on cell attachment, proliferation, and degradation.
- To compare the performance of novel Lys-PCL scaffolds with commercial PCL for TE applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized modified PCL (Lys-PCL) using l-lysine initiated polymerization of ɛ-caprolactone (CL).
- Fabricated scaffolds with varying geometries and controlled pore sizes (~300-900 μm) and porosities (30-70%).
- Evaluated scaffold properties including compressive strength (143-214 MPa), degradation profiles, and in vitro cell responses (adhesion, proliferation, vitality).
- Utilized micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for detailed imaging of scaffold morphology and micro-architecture.
Main Results:
- Lys-PCL scaffolds exhibited faster degradation rates compared to commercial PCL, influenced by chemical nature and design.
- In vitro studies demonstrated enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation on Lys-PCL scaffolds.
- Lys-PCL scaffolds with zigzag geometry showed superior in vitro cell vitality (>90%) and proliferation compared to other designs.
- Scaffold compressive strength varied from 143 ± 19 to 214 ± 10 MPa based on geometry.
Conclusions:
- The developed green synthesis provides a promising route to create bioactive PCL scaffolds for TE.
- Scaffold design significantly influences cell-scaffold interactions, with specific geometries enhancing cell vitality and proliferation.
- Optimizing scaffold morphology, porosity, and bioactivity is crucial for advancing tissue engineering applications.
