3D printed high-resolution scaffold with hydrogel microfibers for providing excellent biocompatibility

J Biomater Appl. 2021 Jan;35(6):633-642. doi: 10.1177/0885328220962606. Epub 2020 Sep 30.

Abstract

Melt electrowriting (MEW) can print high-resolution scaffolds with the ultrafine fibers from 800 nm to 20 µm. However, the cell seeding efficiency relatively low due to the large pore size of the MEW scaffold. Here, we reported a method to solve this dilemma by electrospinning a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel fibers membrane (HFM) on the MEW scaffold. This composite scaffold can own the controlled structures and porosity and excellent cell seeding performance. We systematically investigate the fabrication, morphology, and biocompatibility of composite scaffolds. The implanting of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVES) showed excellent adhesion and biocompatibility on the composite scaffold. Moreover, the cells migrated gradually into the MEW scaffold along the GelMA HFM to form the cell sheet. We hold the opinion that the composite scaffolds have potential applications in the field of tissue engineering repair.

Keywords: Melt electrowriting; composite scaffold; electrospinning; gelatin methacrylate.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gelatin / chemistry*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / metabolism
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Rheology
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Hydrogels
  • Methacrylates
  • Gelatin