Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning for bone tissue engineering

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanofibrous composite scaffolds having nano-hydroxyapatite particles (HAp) in the fibers were prepared by electrospinning of PLGA and HAp with an average diameter of 266.6 ± 7.3 nm. Microscopy and spectroscopy characterizations confirmed integration of the crystalline HAp in the scaffolds. Agglomerates gradually appeared and increased on the fiber surface along with increase of the HAp concentration. In vitro mineralization in a 5 × simulated body fluid (SBF) revealed that the PLGA/HAp nanofibrous scaffolds had a stronger biomineralization ability than the control PLGA scaffolds. Biological performance of the nanofibrous scaffolds of the control PLGA and PLGA with 5 wt% HAp (PLGA/5HAp) was assessed by in vitro culture of neonatal mouse calvaria-derived MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Both types of the scaffolds could support cell proliferation and showed sharp increase of viability until 7 days, but the cells cultured on the PLGA/5HAp nanofibers showed a more spreading morphology. Despite the similar level of the cell viability and cell number at each time interval, the alkaline phosphatase secretion was significantly enhanced on the PLGA/5HAp scaffolds, indicating the higher bioactivity of the as-prepared nano-HAp and the success of the present method for preparing biomimetic scaffold for bone regeneration.     

Development and cell response of a new biodegradable composite scaffold for guided bone regeneration

Composites of biodegradable polymers with different calcium phosphate ceramics and glasses, have been developed as scaffolds for applications in bone-tissue engineering. In this work, phosphate glass particles have been incorporated into the polymer, poly(95L/5DL) lactic acid (PLA) and porous structures were elaborated. Their porosity, compressive mechanical properties and biological response were evaluated. Interconnected structures with evenly distributed pores and a porosity as high as 97% were obtained. The incorporation of glass particles into the polymer showed to have a positive effect in the mechanical properties of the foams. Indeed, the compressive modulus increased from 74.5 to 120 KPa and the compressive strength from 17.5 to 20.1 KPa for the PLA and the PLA/glass foams, respectively. The biological response was evaluated by means of the MTT test, the materials resulted to be noncytotoxic.     

Novel macro-microporous gelatin scaffold fabricated by particulate leaching for soft tissue reconstruction with adipose-derived stem cells

The restoration of body contours as shaped by adipose tissue remains a clinical challenge specifically in patients who have experienced loss of contour due to trauma, surgical removal of tumours or congenital abnormalities. We have developed a novel macro-microporous biomaterial for use in soft tissue re-bulking and augmentation. Alginate beads provided the pore template for the construct. Incorporation, and subsequent dissolution, of the beads within a 7 % (w/v) gelatin matrix, produced a highly porous scaffold with an average pore size of 2.01 ± 0.08 mm. The ability of this scaffold to support the in vitro growth and differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) was then investigated. Histological analysis confirmed that the scaffold itself provided a suitable environment to support the growth of ADSCs on the scaffold walls. When delivered into the macropores in a fibrin hydrogel, ADSCs proliferated and filled the pores. In addition, ADSCs could readily be differentiated along the adipogenic lineage. These results therefore describe a novel scaffold that can support the proliferation and delivery of ADSCs. The scaffold is the first stage in developing a clinical alternative to current treatment methods for soft tissue reconstruction.     

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-based hybrid materials with photocatalytic and magnetic properties prepared by electrospinning and electrospraying

Several types of nanostructured hybrid fibrous materials containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), nanoparticles from iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and chitosan or chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) were prepared. The design of the surface of the materials and their magnetic properties were tailored purposefully by conjunction of electrospinning and electrospraying. The surface and bulk morphologies of the obtained nanostructured materials were examined by SEM. Further, the distribution of Fe₃O₄ and TiO₂ nanoparticles was estimated by TEM analyses, as well as their surface chemical composition was determined by XPS. It was found that the simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying of Fe₃O₄/chitosan or TiO₂/COS dispersions resulted in uniform distribution of the nanoparticles along the length of the fibers, while electrospraying of the mixed Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/chitosan dispersion led to agglomerate formation. Furthermore, the nanostructured hybrid materials preserved the magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ embedded therein. It was demonstrated that the hybrid materials of different designs displayed excellent photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation against a model organic contaminant—methylene blue, even after threefold use of the materials.     

Production of new 3D scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration by rapid prototyping

The incidence of bone disorders, whether due to trauma or pathology, has been trending upward with the aging of the worldwide population. The currently available treatments for bone injuries are rather limited, involving mainly bone grafts and implants. A particularly promising approach for bone regeneration uses rapid prototyping (RP) technologies to produce 3D scaffolds with highly controlled structure and orientation, based on computer-aided design models or medical data. Herein, tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/alginate scaffolds were produced using RP and subsequently their physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties were characterized. The results showed that 60/40 of TCP and alginate formulation was able to match the compression and present a similar Young modulus to that of trabecular bone while presenting an adequate biocompatibility. Moreover, the biomineralization ability, roughness and macro and microporosity of scaffolds allowed cell anchoring and proliferation at their surface, as well as cell migration to its interior, processes that are fundamental for osteointegration and bone regeneration.     

Novel biomimetic hydroxyapatite/alginate nanocomposite fibrous scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

Hydroxyapatite/alginate nanocomposite fibrous scaffolds were fabricated via electrospinning and a novel in situ synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) that mimics mineralized collagen fibrils in bone tissue. Poorly crystalline HAp nanocrystals, as confirmed by X-ray diffractometer peak approximately at 2θ = 32° and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum with double split bands of PO₄(v ₄) at 564 and 602 cm^?1, were induced to nucleate and grow at the [–COO^?]–Ca²⁺–[–COO^?] linkage sites on electrospun alginate nanofibers impregnated with PO₄ ^3? ions. This novel process resulted in a uniform deposition of HAp nanocrystals on the nanofibers, overcoming the severe agglomeration of HAp nanoparticles processed by the conventional mechanical blending/electrospinning method. Preliminary in vitro cell study showed that rat calvarial osteoblasts attached more stably on the surface of the HAp/alginate scaffolds than on the pure alginate scaffold. In general, the osteoblasts were stretched and elongated into a spindle-shape on the HAp/alginate scaffolds, whereas the cells had a round-shaped morphology on the alginate scaffold. The unique nanofibrous topography combined with the hybridization of HAp and alginate can be advantageous in bone tissue regenerative medicine applications.     

Fabrication and characterization of PCL/gelatin composite nanofibrous scaffold for tissue engineering applications by electrospinning method

In the present study, composite nanofibrous tissue engineering-scaffold consisting of polycaprolactone and gelatin, was fabricated by electrospinning method, using a new cost-effective solvent mixture: chloroform/methanol for polycaprolactone (PCL) and acetic acid for gelatin. The morphology of the nanofibrous scaffold was investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) which clearly indicates that the morphology of nanofibers was influenced by the weight ratio of PCL to gelatin in the solution. Uniform fibers were produced only when the weight ratio of PCL/gelatin is sufficiently high (10:1). The scaffold was further characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FT-IR and TG analysis indicated some interactions between PCL and gelatin molecules within the scaffold, while XRD results demonstrated crystalline nature of PCL/gelatin composite scaffold. Cytotoxicity effect of scaffold on L929 mouse fibroblast cells was evaluated by MTT assay and cell proliferation on the scaffold was confirmed by DNA quantification. Positive results of MTT assay and DNA quantification L929 mouse fibroblast cells indicated that the scaffold made from the combination of natural polymer (gelatin) and synthetic polymer (PCL) may serve as a good candidate for tissue engineering applications.     

Fabrication and properties of porous scaffold of zein/PCL biocomposite for bone tissue engineering

The aim of this study was to fabricate porous scaffolds of zein/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) biocomposite by solvent casting–particulate leaching method using sodium chloride particles as the porogen. Porous biocomposite scaffolds with porosity around 70% and well-interconnected network were obtained. The incorporation of zein into PCL led to the improvement of hydrophilicity as indicated by the results of water contact angle measurement. After immersion in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in vitro for 28 days, it was observed that the degradation rate of the zein/PCL biocomposite scaffold was faster than the PCL scaffold and that the rate could be tailored by adjusting the amount of zein in the composite. The results demonstrate the potential of the zein/PCL biocomposite scaffolds to be used in tissue engineering strategies to regenerate bone defects.     

Biodegradable and bioactive properties of a novel bone scaffold coated with nanocrystalline bioactive glass for bone tissue engineering

The development of the new technologies of bone tissue engineering requires the production of bioactive and biodegradable macroporous scaffolds. Hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics are useful bone substitutes, but they degrade minimally. Tricalcium phosphates also show poor ability of Ca-P formation both in-vitro and in-vivo, although they are degradable. The present study introduces a biodegradable, bioactive, and macroporous scaffold with suitable mechanical properties. The prepared hydroxyapatite scaffold was coated with a nanocrystalline bioactive glass layer to be subsequently sintered at different temperatures. The bioactivity and degradability of the coated scaffolds were investigated by standard procedures. The ability to induce Ca-P formation in SBF (simulated body fluid) was also investigated semi-quantitatively. BS1 scaffolds (scaffolds sintered at 800 °C with a holding time of 2 h) showed remarkable bioactivity and degradability simultaneously. Formation of a nanocrystalline phase (Si₂PO₇) during the sintering considerably decreased the capability of BS1 scaffolds for Ca-P formation and the rate of degradation but enhanced their mechanical properties. The BS1 scaffolds showed not only significant bioactivity but also good degradability and suitable mechanical property.     

Enhanced the structure and optical properties for ZnO/PVP nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning technique

Zinc oxide/polyvinylpyrrolidone (ZnO/PVP) nanocomposite fibers with enhanced structural, morphological and optical properties were purposefully tailored using electrospinning technique. Meanwhile, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs),with particle size of ~50 nm, were synthesized using a co-precipitation method. The nanocomposite fibers were prepared by an electrospun solution of PVP containing ZnO NPs of 2, 4, 6 and 8 wt%. Evidently, the morphological, thermal and optical properties of the ZnO/PVP nanocomposite fibers were enhanced by dispersing ZnO NPs into PVP fibers. Typically, controlling the ZnO NPs content and their dispersibility (0–8 wt%) into PVP fibers result in improved the thermal stability (an increase of onset decomposition temperature by ~120 °C above pure PVP fibers) as well as the UV–Vis protection (reduction in UV transmission by 70%) and the photoluminescence properties (a sharp UV emission around 380 nm) Overall, based on the enhanced properties, the PVP/ZnO nanocomposite fibers can be considered a promise material in optoelectronic sensors and UV photoconductor.     

Fabrication of hierarchical polycaprolactone/gel scaffolds via combined 3D bioprinting and electrospinning for tissue engineering

It is a severe challenge to construct 3D scaffolds which hold controllable pore structure and similar morphology of the natural extracellular matrix(ECM).In this study,a compound technology is proposed by combining the 3D bioprinting and electrospinning process to fabricate 3D scaffolds,which are composed by orthogonal array gel microfibers in a grid-like arrangement and intercalated by a nonwoven structure with randomly distributed polycaprolactone(PCL) nanofibers.Human adiposederived stem cells(hASCs) are seeded on the hierarchical scaffold and cultured 21 d for in vitro study.The results of cells culturing show that the microfibers structure with controlled pores can allow the easy entrance of cells and the efficient diffusion of nutrients,and the nanofiber webs layered in the scaffold can significantly improve initial cell attachment and proliferation.The present work demonstrates that the hierarchical PCL/gel scaffolds consisting of controllable 3D architecture with interconnected pores and biomimetic nanofiber structures resembling the ECM can be designed and fabricated by the combination of 3D bioprinting and electrospinning to improve biological performance in tissue engineering applications.     

Three-dimensionally plotted MBG/PHBHHx composite scaffold for antitubercular drug delivery and tissue regeneration

A suitable drug-loaded scaffold that can postoperatively release an antituberculosis drug efficiently in a lesion area and help repair a bone defect is very important in the clinical treatment of bone tuberculosis (TB). In this study, a composite drug-loaded cylindrical scaffold was prepared by using three-dimensional printing technology in combination with the mesoporous confinement range, surface chemical groups, and gradual degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). This achieves the slow release of a drug for as long as possible. We implanted the drug-loaded compound scaffold into New Zealand rabbits’ femur defect model to study the in vivo drug release performance and osteogenic ability. The in vivo release of isoniazid and rifampicin from the prepared composites could be effectively sustained for 12 weeks in local tissues, whereas these drugs were sustained for just 2 weeks in a control group. The blood drug concentrations were very low and most concentrations were below 5 μg/ml. Therefore, the systemic toxic adverse effect is very low. In addition, the composite exhibits good osteogenic potential in a rabbit bone defect model. The results of this study indicate that this composite has great potential for treating osteoarticular TB.     

Microstructure and physical properties of Al/diamond composite fabricated by pressureless infiltration

Abstract

The Al/diamond composite was fabricated using a pressureless infiltration method. The microstructure and physical properties of the composite were investigated. The composite has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 3·9 × 10^?6 K^?1. The thermal conductivity (TC) of the composite is 12% higher than that of the Al alloy matrix. The lower TC of the composite than the expected value was attributed to the existence of interfacial low conducting phases and the porocity of the composite.     

Hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering made by 3D printing

Nowadays, there is a significant need for synthetic bone replacement materials used in bone tissue engineering (BTE). Rapid prototyping and especially 3D printing is a suitable technique to create custom implants based on medical data sets. 3D printing allows to fabricate scaffolds based on Hydroxyapatite with complex internal structures and high resolution. To determine the in vitro behaviour of cells cultivated on the scaffolds, we designed a special test-part. MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded on the scaffolds and cultivated under static and dynamic setups. Histological evaluation was carried out to characterise the cell ingrowth. In summary, the dynamic cultivation method lead to a stronger population compared to the static cultivation method. The cells proliferated deep into the structure forming close contact to Hydroxyapatite granules.     

Evaluating cell proliferation based on internal pore size and 3D scaffold architecture fabricated using solid freeform fabrication technology

The scaffold, as a medical component to regenerate tissues or organs in humans, plays an important role in tissue engineering. Recently, solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technology using computer-assisted methods was applied to address the problems of conventional fabrication methods in which the internal/outer architectures cannot be controlled. In this report, we propose suitable scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration considering the internal pore size and scaffold architecture. Poly(propylene fumarate) was used as the biodegradable photopolymer, and scaffolds were fabricated using microstereolithography (MSTL). We observed the relationship between the internal pores and architecture, and the proliferation of pre-osteoblast cells. To demonstrate the superiority of MSTL, we fabricated conventional and SFF scaffolds, and measured the cell proliferation rates for each. The results showed that cell proliferation on the MSTL scaffold was clearly superior and indicated that MSTL would be a good replacement for current conventional methods.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia-based nanocomposite powder reinforced by graphene and its application for bone scaffold with 3D printing

Hydrothermal method is a cheap and green approach for the synthesis of composite powders. In this study, the zirconia (ZrO₂)-based nanocomposite powder was reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (ZrO₂/RGO) and was synthesized in a one-pot as a precursor for bone scaffold applications. Moreover, for the stimulation of osseointegration in bone scaffolds, Hydroxyapatite (HA) was used in 10 wt%. In this regard, the two types of ZrO₂/RGO and ZrO₂/RGO/HA precursors were applied for the fabrication of bone scaffolds via 3D printing and finally, the mechanical and biological properties of scaffolds were evaluated. For characterization, the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), compress strength, and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide as MTT assay protocol were performed. The results demonstrated that the ZrO₂/RGO scaffolds with a tolerance of compressive stress of 240.11 MPa depicted better mechanical properties compared with ZrO₂/RGO/HA with the compress strength of 141.66 MPa. Moreover, after 7 days of bone scaffolds immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) the growth of compressive strength began while after 28 days reached 260.15 MPa for ZrO₂/RGO and 192.31 for ZrO₂/RGO/HA. Finally, the cellular response of the scaffolds indicated the lack of cellular toxicity of the scaffolds during MTT assay.     

Design, synthesis and properties of a degradable polyurethane scaffold for meniscus regeneration

Longitudinal lesions in menisci are among the most frequent orthopedic problems of the knee. Repair by simple techniques is only limited to the vascular part of the meniscus. For repair of the avascular part of the meniscus a scaffold, which will assist the body in the formation of new meniscus cell tissue, might be applicable. In this study a biomedical segmented polyurethane with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) as soft segment and 1,4-butanediisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as uniform hard segments has been synthesised. The material has a micro phase separated morphology and excellent mechanical properties. A porous scaffold was prepared via a combination of liquid-liquid phase separation and salt leaching. The foams prepared combined a very high interconnectivity and porosity with the desired compression modulus. After six months of implantation in the knees of beagles full ingrowth with cells was obtained and it was found that meniscus like tissue had been formed in the scaffold. Moreover, compression behaviour appeared to be comparable to native meniscus tissue.     

可缓释药物的明胶/磷酸钙骨水泥复合组织工程支架材料

采用向孔隙中灌注含聚乳酸聚乙醇酸共聚物（PLGA）载药微球的明胶溶液的方法制备了具有药物缓释功能的明胶/磷酸钙骨水泥复合组织工程支架。用扫描电子显微镜观察了微球和支架的形貌特征,用万能材料试验机测定了支架材料的抗压强度,用紫外-可见分光光度计分析了复合支架的释药率。结果表明,灌注明胶对多孔磷酸钙骨水泥支架起到显著的增强作用,抗压强度达2.42 MPa。复合支架携载硫酸庆大霉素, 具有良好的药物缓释功能,缓释时间可达30天以上,使支架在修复骨缺损的同时能消除炎症反应,成为一种集骨修复和治疗于一体的新型组织工程支架材料,具有良好的应用前景。      

Preparation of LaFeO3 nanofibers by electrospinning for gas sensors with fast response and recovery

LaFeO(3) nanofibers are successfully prepared by the electrospinning method. XRD patterns show that the materials belong to a cubic system. After calcination at 600?°C for 3 h, SEM photographs show that the diameters of the nanofibers are about 80-90 nm and their surfaces are smooth. The response-recovery properties of an LaFeO(3) nanofiber sensor to ethanol are better than those of an LaFeO(3) nanobelt and nanoparticle sensor. LaFeO(3) nanofibers have relatively low resistance, and they improve the weakness of LaFeO(3) nanoparticles upon application. An LaFeO(3) nanofiber sensor also has good reversibility and selectivity to ethanol and is a very good p-type semiconductor material.