Multi-Nozzles 3D Bioprinting Collagen/Thermoplastic Elasto-Mer Scaffold with Interconnect Pores

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Scaffolds are vital for tissue engineering but fabricating them with good biocompatibility and mechanical properties is challenging.
• Previous methods struggled with the printability of pure collagen and maintaining structural integrity during multilayer printing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-material scaffold fabrication method using 3D printing of collagen and thermoplastic elastomers at room temperature.
• To overcome challenges in collagen printability and multilayer structural integrity for improved scaffold performance.

Main Methods:

• Optimized collagen concentration and pH to enhance printability.
• Utilized a precise temperature-control system for large-span thermoplastic elastomer printing.
• Developed a hybrid scaffold with an interconnected porous structure.

Main Results:

• The hybrid scaffold supports fibroblast adhesion and proliferation.
• Neutralized and cross-linked collagen scaffolds with nanofibers and rigidity enhanced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) osteogenic differentiation.
• Demonstrated significant clinical application potential for soft and hard tissue regeneration.

Conclusions:

• The developed collagen-thermoplastic elastomer hybrid scaffold offers a versatile solution for tissue engineering.
• This method addresses key fabrication challenges, paving the way for advanced regenerative templates.