title: Development and characterization of a porous micro-patterned scaffold for vascular tissue engineering applications.
abstract: The fabrication of functional small diameter blood vessel analogs has implications in vascular disease treatment. Current 3D models of the medial vessel layer lack micron-scale topographical cues that have shown promise in vitro by recapitulating native vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) behavior. A major obstacle to fabricating 3D scaffolds is maintaining adequate nutrient diffusion to cells. We have developed and characterized porous micro-patterned poly-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds using a novel technique that integrates soft lithography, melt molding and particulate leaching of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) micro/nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy showed that PLGA-leached scaffolds have circular pores significantly smaller than the size scale of the grooved surface pattern (48 microm grooves; 5 microm deep; 12 microm spacing). Diffusion of media through PLGA-leached scaffolds was six-fold greater than through non-porous scaffolds, indicating successful introduction of through-pores into PCL by the PLGA leaching technique. VSMC alignment on micro-patterned PLGA-leached scaffolds was similar to that on micro-patterned non-porous scaffolds, indicating no loss in cellular organization on PLGA-leached scaffolds. In contrast, cells seeded on micro-patterned sodium bicarbonate-leached scaffolds remained un-aligned. The ability to micro-pattern cells on porous scaffolds may facilitate the transfer of micro-technology from simple 2D substrates to complex 3D architectures, allowing for tight control over cellular organization in fabricated tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Sumona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: George Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joyce Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Tejal A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000254:growth & development*; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid