The fabrication of PLGA microvessel scaffolds with nano-patterned inner walls.
Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most commonly used biodegradable, biocompatible materials. Nanostructured PLGA has immense potential for application in tissue engineering. In this article we discuss a novel approach for the fabrication of PLGA microvessel scaffolds with nanostructured inner walls. In this novel nano-patterning approach, the thermal reflow technique is first adapted to fabricate a semi-cylindrical photoresist master mold. A thin film of titanium and a thin film of aluminum are sputtered in sequence on the semi-cylindrical microvessel network. Aluminum foil anodization is then executed to transform the aluminum thin film into a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film. During the casting process a PLGA solution is cast on the AAO film to build up semi-cylindrical PLGA microstructures with nanostructured inner walls after which inductive coupled plasma (ICP) is implemented to assist bonding of the two PLGA structures. The result is the building of a network of microchannels with nano-patterned inner walls. Bovine endothelial cells (BECs) are carefully cultured in the scaffold via semi-dynamic seeding for 7 days. Observations show that the BECs grew more separately in a nano-patterned microvessel scaffold than they did in a smooth surface scaffold.
Wang
Gou-Jen
GJ
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan. gjwang@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Lin
Yan-Cheng
YC
Hsu
Shan-Hui
SH
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000537:Aluminum Oxide