A cryogenic direct-plotting system for fabrication of 3D collagen scaffolds for tissue engineering

Abstract

The goal of tissue engineering is to repair or regenerate damaged tissue using a combination of cellular biology and materials engineering techniques. One of the challenging problems in tissue engineering is the development of a reproducible three-dimensional (3D) scaffold to support cell migration and infiltration. Although natural polymers, such as dissolved collagen or alginate, are considered ideal for this purpose, their hydrophilic properties have hindered the fabrication of designed 3D scaffold structures. To overcome this problem, we developed a novel system for the cryogenic plotting of 3D scaffolds. Using this technique, we created various 3D collagen scaffolds with designed pore structures that exhibited desired properties. The diameter of the individual collagen strands, which varied from 250 mm to 500 mm, was reproducibly dependent on processing parameters, and the final collagen scaffold showed little shrinkage (less than 12%) relative to the initial design. To evaluate the fabricated scaffold, we adapted the scaffold to regenerate skin tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that co-cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts completely migrated throughout the 3D collagen scaffold and keratinocytes were well differentiated on the surface of scaffold like a human skin.

Regeneration of chronic tympanic membrane perforation using 3D collagen with topical umbilical cord serum

“…However, the fabricated collagen scaffold has a broad pore-size distribution; moreover, the controllability of pore structure within the scaffold was impossible. To overcome these fabrication challenges, an indirect solid free form fabrication and low temperature direct plotting method was used [44,45]. In recent, we fabricated pore-size controlled collagen scaffolds and we used it in skin tissue regeneration.…”

Calcium Phosphate Based Three-Dimensional Cold Plotted Bone Scaffolds for Critical Size Bone Defects

“…Furthermore, scaffolds extruded at room temperature generally have a higher density, compared to scaffolds established by extrusion combined with freeze drying [28, 29]. It was found that filter pressing, thread thickness, and thread stability during extrusion and after drying are influenced by the combination of steric and electrostatic additives in the composition.…”

The influence of operating parameters on the drug release and anti-bacterial performances of alginate wound dressings prepared by three-dimensional plotting

“…These techniques can also produce desired pore sizes and mechanical properties for specific applications [18]. Researchers have recently turned to three-dimensional plotting techniques for scaffolds that require precise control of scaffold design [19,20]. To apply the three-dimensional plotting technique to natural polymers, the processes cannot require heating, high pressure, harsh solvents, or post-processing; consequently, bio-components such as proteins or cells can also be included in the fabrication process [21].…”