Pasini, C.; Pandini, S.; Re, F.; Ferroni, M.; Borsani, E.; Russo, D.; Sartore, L. New Poly(lactic acid)–Hydrogel Core–Shell Scaffolds Highly Support MSCs’ Viability, Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation. Polymers2023, 15, 4631.
Pasini, C.; Pandini, S.; Re, F.; Ferroni, M.; Borsani, E.; Russo, D.; Sartore, L. New Poly(lactic acid)–Hydrogel Core–Shell Scaffolds Highly Support MSCs’ Viability, Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation. Polymers 2023, 15, 4631.
Pasini, C.; Pandini, S.; Re, F.; Ferroni, M.; Borsani, E.; Russo, D.; Sartore, L. New Poly(lactic acid)–Hydrogel Core–Shell Scaffolds Highly Support MSCs’ Viability, Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation. Polymers2023, 15, 4631.
Pasini, C.; Pandini, S.; Re, F.; Ferroni, M.; Borsani, E.; Russo, D.; Sartore, L. New Poly(lactic acid)–Hydrogel Core–Shell Scaffolds Highly Support MSCs’ Viability, Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation. Polymers 2023, 15, 4631.
Abstract
Scaffolds for tissue engineering are expected to respond to a challenging combination of physical and mechanical requirements, guiding the research towards the development of novel hybrid materials. This study introduces innovative three-dimensional bioresorbable scaffolds, in which a stiff poly(lactic acid) lattice structure is meant to ensure temporary mechanical support, while a bioactive gelatin-chitosan hydrogel is incorporated to provide a better environment for cell adhesion and proliferation.
The scaffolds present a core-shell structure, in which the lattice core is realized by additive manufacturing, while the shell is nested throughout the core by grafting and crosslinking a hydrogel forming solution. After subsequent freeze-drying, the hydrogel network forms a highly interconnected porous structure that completely envelops the poly(lactic acid) core. Thanks to this strategy, it is easy to tailor the scaffold properties for a specific target application, by properly designing the lattice geometry and the core/shell ratio, which are found to significantly affect the scaffold mechanical performance and its bioresorption.
Compression stiffness and strength provided by poly(lactic acid) lattices are overall within the range of values displayed by human bone tissue and remain stable after prolonged immersion in water at body temperature for several weeks. On the other hand, the hydrogel undergoes gradual and homogeneous degradation over time, but the core-shell integrity and structural stability are nevertheless maintained during at least 7-week hydrolytic degradation tests. In vitro experiments with human mesenchymal stromal cells reveal that the core-shell scaffolds are biocompatible and their physical-mechanical properties and architecture are suitable to support cell growth and osteogenic differentiation, as demonstrated by hydroxyapatite formation. These results suggest that the bioresorbable core-shell scaffolds can be considered, and further studied, in view of clinically relevant endpoints in bone regenerative medicine.
Keywords
scaffold design; PLA; gelatin-chitosan hydrogel; tissue engineering; bone regeneration; 3D printing
Subject
Chemistry and Materials Science, Biomaterials
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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