Improving Infection Resistance in Tissue Engineered Scaffolds for Tensile Applications Using Vancomycin‐Embedded Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds

Abstract

It is important to consider mechanical, biological, and antibacterial properties of scaffolds when used for tissue engineering applications. This study presents a method to create complex “wavy” architecture polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds toward the development of tissue engineered ligament and tendon tissue substitutes, fabricated using melt electrowriting (MEW) and loaded with vancomycin (5, 10, and 25% w/w). Scaffolds are characterized for both mechanical and biological properties. Loading PCL scaffolds with vancomycin with modified solvent evaporation technique achieves a high loading efficiency of maximum 18% w/w and high encapsulation efficiency with over 89%. Vancomycin loaded PCL scaffolds with all three doses (5, 10, and 25% w/w) display antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) up to 14 days of release. Initial burst followed by a sustained release is observed on all three vancomycin loaded scaffolds for up to 28 days. Importantly, in addition to antibacterial properties, vancomycin‐loaded PCL scaffolds also display improved mechanical properties compared to traditional crosshatch design MEW scaffolds and are noncytotoxic at all concentrations as demonstrated by live‐dead staining, cell attachment and proliferation assays indicating its potential as an effective treatment option for tissue regeneration in rotator cuff injuries or other tissues undergoing tensile biomechanical loading.

Materials and Strategies to Enhance Melt Electrowriting Potential

“…Antibacterial activity against S. aureus. [ 110], 2023 NCO-poly(ethylene oxide-stat-propylene oxide) coating + streptavidin/collagen biofunctionalization Hydrophilizes the PCL surface and minimizes unspecific interactions with proteins and cells, providing a more biocompatible interface and possibilities for further biofunctionalizations.…”

“…[ 24 ] On a different approach, Mathew and colleagues explored the use of modified solvent evaporation techniques to load MEW PCL scaffold with vancomycin drug. [ 110 ] A high encapsulation efficiency over 89% was achieved by this method. PCL scaffolds loaded with different amounts of vancomycin (5, 10, and 25 wt%) showed high antibacterial activity against S. aureus even after 14 days of continuous release of vancomycin in PBS at 37 °C.…”