Rationally designed ultra-fast laser surface texturation of biocompatible temporal scaffolds

Abstract

The aim of the current work is to create 2D silk fibroin and 3D calcium phosphate temporal cellular scaffolds with specifically enhanced porous topographical design by means of femtosecond laser-induced nano- and micro-scale hybrid surface structuring for application in muscle and bone tissue engineering. The created cellular matrices were ablated in a multistep manner using a Solstice Ace system, delivering laser pulses with pulse duration of 70 fs, at λ=800 nm and a focus spot of 25μm. The samples were positioned on a motorized XY translation stage perpendicular or in a variable angle in respect to the laser beam. Based on the previously performed comparative experimental study, optimal laser structuring conditions and raster patterns were chosen for further enhancement of muscular and Schwann cells environment. The most valuable contribution of the study presented is related to the optimization of the bioactivity properties of the studied cell matrices and their subsequent practical application in tissue engineering.