Biocompatible 3D Liquid Crystal Elastomer Cell Scaffolds and Foams with Primary and Secondary Porous Architecture

Abstract

3D biodegradable and highly regular foamlike cell scaffolds based on biocompatible side-chain liquid crystal elastomers have been prepared. Scaffolds with a primary porosity characterized by spatially interlaced, interconnected microchannels or an additional secondary porosity featuring interconnected microchannel networks define the novel elastomeric scaffolds. The macroscale morphology of the dual porosity 3D scaffold resembles vascular networks observed in tissue. 3D elastomer foams show four times higher cell proliferation capability compared to conventional porous templated films and within the channels guide spontaneous cell alignment enabling the possibility of tissue construct fabrication toward more clinically complex environments.

High Internal Phase Emulsion Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Pentadecanolide: Strategy to Obtain Porous Scaffolds in a Single Step

“…The cell behavior is highly influenced by surface texture, pore size, and interconnectivity of the scaffold . Selective adsorption, filtration and separation, catalysis, and energy storage are some other areas where use of porous scaffolds has been explored due to the advantage originating from their high surface area to mass ratio …”

3D Porous Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams Supporting Long‐term Neuronal Cultures

“…We reported that LCEs promote cell penetration and attachment into the LCE scaffold successfully creating 3D‐LCE foams capable of supporting long‐term spatial growth of cells 17. To further refine and continue the development of our platform of LCE as growth constructs, we present and evaluate 3D‐LCE foams as a platform that mimics endogenous nervous tissue and supports long‐term cultures permitting growth of differentiated networks over multiple months.…”

“…LCE foams were made as described in Figure S1, Supporting Information, using a sacrificial Ni metallic structure 17,20. The obtained LCE microstructure was verified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and included pore sizes ranging from 150–400 µm and secondary micro‐channels with a diameter of ≈40 µm ( Figure ) clearly visible in the SEM images.…”

“…Figure 1 shows the Ni metallic structure transferred to the LCE during crosslinking forming vessel‐like interconnected channels ideal for cell culture applications. The process, allows for control of pore size, density, and morphology 17,20. Highly interconnected pores (>85%21) provide suitable mass transport where cells have constant access to nutrients, gases, and waste management, reducing cell death and increasing viability,35 avoiding mass transfer restrictions,36 where diffusion of nutrients, and oxygen are promoted by the scaffold structure.…”

Role of Surfactant during Microemulsion Photopolymerization for the Creation of Three-Dimensional Liquid Crystal Elastomer Microsphere Spatial Cell Scaffolds

“…We have previously reported the use of biocompatible smectic LCEs where their anisotropic nature and different internal morphology promoted not only cell adhesion and permeation within the bulk of LCEs (Sharma et al, 2014;Gao et al, 2016) but also a suitable substrate to support three-dimensional (3D) cell growth. We also reported (Bera et al, 2015) the use of microemulsion photopolymerization in a proof-of-concept study on the utilization of nematic LCEs as 3D connected microsphere scaffolds for muscle cells.…”