PCL-HA microscaffolds for in vitro modular bone tissue engineering

Abstract

The evolution of microscaffolds and bone-bioactive surfaces is a pivotal point in modular bone tissue engineering. In this study, the design and fabrication of porous polycaprolactone (PCL) microscaffolds functionalized with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles by means of a bio-safe and versatile thermally-induced phase separation process is reported. The ability of the as-prepared nanocomposite microscaffolds to support the adhesion, growth and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in standard and osteogenic media and using dynamic seeding/culture conditions was investigated. The obtained results demonstrated that the PCL-HA nanocomposite microparticles had an enhanced interaction with hMSCs and induced their osteogenic differentiation, even without the exogenous addition of osteogenic factors. In particular, calcium deposition, alizarin red assay, histological analysis, osteogenic gene expression and collagen I secretion were assessed. The results of these tests demonstrated the formation of bone microtissue precursors after 28 days of dynamic culture. These findings suggest that PCL-HA nanocomposite microparticles represent an excellent platform for in vitro modular bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fabrication of nanoparticles for bone regeneration: new insight into applications of nanoemulsion technology

“…via 3D-printing 189 ) or cross-linked together 190 at physiological temperature, they could be used as building blocks of modular bone tissue constructs. 191 Due to their small size, HAp-loaded nanospheres could also be implanted or injected directly to the bone defect. Methods allowing synthesis of HAp directly within hydrogel nanocarriers, such as the one discussed above, used in conjunction with cell encapsulation and in vitro tissue culture hold great promise for manufacturing of nanoscaffolds and multifunctional biomimetic bone tissue constructs.…”

Modular Strategies to Build Cell-Free and Cell-Laden Scaffolds towards Bioengineered Tissues and Organs

“…Following this strategy, a 3D functional dermal tissue has been created and used as a base platform to study natural and pathologic tissue morphogenesis mechanisms, such as follicle-like structure formation [81] and tissue vascularization [82], as well as to study dermis remodeling and epidermis senescence after UV radiation exposure [83]. The feasibility of using cell-laden µ-scaffolds to fabricate highly complex biomimetic tissues was also explored in the case of bone [84], cardiac tissue [85], and liver tissues [86]. For example, Chen et al cultured human amniotic MSCs onto gelatin µ-scaffolds for up to eight days, after which, cells were induced to undergo osteogenic differentiation in the same culture flask and cultured for up to 28 days.…”

Fabrication of Biocompatible Polycaprolactone–Hydroxyapatite Composite Filaments for the FDM 3D Printing of Bone Scaffolds

“…[14]. Thus, PCL is generally used together with HA to provide the appropriate mechanical strength required for a scaffold [13,15,16]. For the fabrication of bone scaffolds using a PCL/HA composite, various fabrication methods, such as salt leaching [13], thermally induced phase-separation (TIPS) [15], and 3D printing [17,18] have been employed.…”