Polycaprolactone scaffolds fabricated with an advanced electrohydrodynamic direct-printing method for bone tissue regeneration.

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) direct writing has been used in diverse microelectromechanical systems and various supplemental methods for biotechnology and electronics. In this work, we expanded the use of EHD-induced direct writing to fabricate 3D biomedical scaffolds designed as porous structures for bone tissue engineering. To prepare the scaffolds, we modified a grounded target used in conventional EHD direct printing using a poly(ethylene oxide) solution bath, elastically cushioning the plotted struts to prevent crumbling. The fabricated scaffolds were assessed for not only physical properties including surface roughness and water uptake ability but also biological capabilities by culturing osteoblast-like cells (MG63) for the EHD-plotted polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold. The EHD-scaffolds showed significantly roughened surface and enhanced water-absorption ability (400% increase) compared with the pure rapid-prototyped PCL. The results of cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralization analyses showed significantly enhanced biological properties of the scaffold (20 times the cell viability and 6 times the mineralization) compared with the scaffolds fabricated using RP technology. Because of the results, the modified EHD direct-writing process can be a promising method for fabricating 3D biomedical scaffolds in tissue engineering.

[1]  Hyeongjin Lee,et al.  Three-dimensional plotted PCL/β-TCP scaffolds coated with a collagen layer: preparation, physical properties and in vitro evaluation for bone tissue regeneration , 2011 .

[2]  Tatsuya Shimoda,et al.  Solution-processed silicon films and transistors , 2006, Nature.

[3]  Ki Suk Park,et al.  Response of MG63 osteoblast-like cells onto polycarbonate membrane surfaces with different micropore sizes. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[4]  Martin Hegner,et al.  Rapid functionalization of cantilever array sensors by inkjet printing , 2004 .

[5]  T. Woodfield,et al.  Snapshot: Polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering. , 2009, Biomaterials.

[6]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  The role of electrosprayed apatite nanocrystals in guiding osteoblast behaviour. , 2008, Biomaterials.

[7]  Dietmar W Hutmacher,et al.  Scaffold-based tissue engineering: rationale for computer-aided design and solid free-form fabrication systems. , 2004, Trends in biotechnology.

[8]  Hyeongjin Lee,et al.  Three-dimensional hierarchical composite scaffolds consisting of polycaprolactone, β-tricalcium phosphate, and collagen nanofibers: fabrication, physical properties, and in vitro cell activity for bone tissue regeneration. , 2011, Biomacromolecules.

[9]  B D Boyan,et al.  Role of material surfaces in regulating bone and cartilage cell response. , 1996, Biomaterials.

[10]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  A novel method of selecting solvents for polymer electrospinning , 2010 .

[11]  Dietmar W. Hutmacher,et al.  Design, fabrication and characterization of PCL electrospun scaffolds—a review , 2011 .

[12]  Geunhyung Kim,et al.  Effect of an auxiliary electrode on the crystalline morphology of electrospun nanofibers , 2008 .

[13]  E. Sachlos,et al.  Making tissue engineering scaffolds work. Review: the application of solid freeform fabrication technology to the production of tissue engineering scaffolds. , 2003, European cells & materials.

[14]  Yang Yang,et al.  Multicolor Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Processed by Hybrid Inkjet Printing** , 1999 .

[15]  T. De Wilde,et al.  A novel ceramic printing technique based on electrostatic atomization of a suspension , 2002 .

[16]  A. Seifalian,et al.  Novel Electrohydrodynamic Printing of Nanocomposite Biopolymer Scaffolds , 2007 .

[17]  Martin Schuler,et al.  Systematic study of osteoblast and fibroblast response to roughness by means of surface-morphology gradients. , 2007, Biomaterials.

[18]  S. Hollister.  Porous scaffold design for tissue engineering , 2005, Nature materials.

[19]  H. Sirringhaus,et al.  High-Resolution Ink-Jet Printing of All-Polymer Transistor Circuits , 2000, Science.

[20]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  Electrohydrodynamic Processing Routes for Bioceramics , 2007 .

[21]  Robert Langer,et al.  Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering , 1994, Bio/Technology.

[22]  H. Kim,et al.  Nanofibrous-structured biopolymer scaffolds obtained by a phase separation with camphene and initial cellular events , 2011 .

[23]  D. Kaplan,et al.  Porosity of 3D biomaterial scaffolds and osteogenesis. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[24]  John A Rogers,et al.  High-resolution electrohydrodynamic jet printing. , 2007, Nature materials.

[25]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  A novel jet-based nano-hydroxyapatite patterning technique for osteoblast guidance , 2010, Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

[26]  Sang Ho Cho,et al.  Fabrication and characterization of hydrophilic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend cell scaffolds by melt-molding particulate-leaching method. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[27]  S. Ahn,et al.  An electrosprayed coating process for fabricating hemispherical PMMA droplets for an optical diffuser , 2009 .

[28]  Felix J. S. Bragman,et al.  Electrohydrodynamic preparation of particles, capsules and bubbles for biomedical engineering applications , 2011 .

[29]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  Electrohydrodynamic Direct Writing of Biomedical Polymers and Composites , 2010 .

[30]  L. Griffith,et al.  Tissue Engineering--Current Challenges and Expanding Opportunities , 2002, Science.

[31]  John P Fisher,et al.  Macroporous hydrogels upregulate osteogenic signal expression and promote bone regeneration. , 2010, Biomacromolecules.

[32]  D. Brunette,et al.  Effects of a grooved epoxy substratum on epithelial cell behavior in vitro and in vivo. , 1988, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[33]  J. Lewis,et al.  Properties and an anisotropic model of cancellous bone from the proximal tibial epiphysis. , 1982, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[34]  M. Rubner,et al.  Reversibly erasable nanoporous anti-reflection coatings from polyelectrolyte multilayers , 2002, Nature materials.

[35]  M. Edirisinghe,et al.  Direct Writing of Polycaprolactone Polymer for Potential Biomedical Engineering Applications , 2011 .

[36]  K. Burg,et al.  Biomaterial developments for bone tissue engineering. , 2000, Biomaterials.

[37]  O. Ishai,et al.  Elastic properties of filled and porous epoxy composites , 1967 .

[38]  A. Barbetta,et al.  Polysaccharide based scaffolds obtained by freezing the external phase of gas-in-liquid foams , 2010 .

[39]  James C. Sturm,et al.  Local tuning of organic light-emitting diode color by dye droplet application , 1998 .

[40]  Geunhyung Kim,et al.  Fabrication of size-controlled three-dimensional structures consisting of electrohydrodynamically produced polycaprolactone micro/nanofibers , 2011 .

[41]  M. Heller.  DNA microarray technology: devices, systems, and applications. , 2002, Annual review of biomedical engineering.

[42]  Geoffrey Ingram Taylor,et al.  Disintegration of water drops in an electric field , 1964, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[43]  Scott J Hollister,et al.  The pore size of polycaprolactone scaffolds has limited influence on bone regeneration in an in vivo model. , 2010, Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A.

[44]  Jinsong Hua,et al.  Characterization of electrospraying process for polymeric particle fabrication , 2008 .

[45]  A. Gañán-Calvo,et al.  The role of liquid viscosity and electrical conductivity on the motions inside Taylor cones in E.H.D. spraying of liquids , 1996 .

[46]  E. Schönherr,et al.  Differential roles for small leucine-rich proteoglycans in bone formation. , 2003, European cells & materials.

[47]  Rainer Schmelzeisen,et al.  Fabrication of soft tissue engineering scaffolds by means of rapid prototyping techniques , 2002 .

[48]  Geun Hyung Kim,et al.  A superhydrophobic surface fabricated by an electrostatic process. , 2010, Macromolecular rapid communications.

[49]  David Dean,et al.  Stereolithographic bone scaffold design parameters: osteogenic differentiation and signal expression. , 2010, Tissue engineering. Part B, Reviews.

[50]  K. Shakesheff,et al.  The influence of dispersant concentration on the pore morphology of hydroxyapatite ceramics for bone tissue engineering. , 2005, Biomaterials.