title: Tailor-made three-dimensional hybrid scaffolds for cell cultures.
abstract: The construction of the ideal three-dimensional scaffold for cell culture is one of the most intriguing topics in tissue engineering. It has been shown that cells can be cultured on most organic biomimetic materials, which now are losing popularity in favour of novel, hybrid systems. In this study, a series of photosensitive sol-gel hybrid materials, based on silicon-zirconium and silicon-titanium oxides, have been investigated for their suitability in three-dimensional scaffold fabrication. These materials can be structured by two-photon polymerization, a laser-based technique allowing the fabrication of micrometre-size structures with submicron resolution. The work presented here examined the effect of the organic/inorganic composition of the materials on cell behaviour and the establishment of a 'cell-culture friendly' environment. This is vital for cell adhesion, growth and differentiation, as the organic part of the material provides the soft matrix for cell growth, whereas the inorganic component gives the mechanical stability and rigidity of the three-dimensional structures. In addition, the use of femtosecond laser structuring permits the fabrication of a wide range of mechanically stable scaffolds of different sizes and shapes to be tested in terms of cell viability, proliferation and orientation.
authors: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, PO Box 1527, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Stylianos
authors: S
authors: Psycharakis
authors: Androniki
authors: A
authors: Tosca
authors: Vasileia
authors: V
authors: Melissinaki
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Giakoumaki
authors: Anthi
authors: A
authors: Ranella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008956:Models, Chemical; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D044367:Phase Transition; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C009495:titanium dioxide; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; C028541:zirconium oxide; D012825:Silicon