title: Three-dimensionally printed polycaprolactone and β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate porcine bone marrow-derived progenitor cell (pBMPC) proliferation and penetration into a novel 3-dimensionally printed scaffold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four different tissue engineering scaffolds to evaluate pBMPC proliferation and penetration were examined. Scaffolds were fabricated from polycaprolactone (PCL) or the combination of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and PCL (50:50), with 2 separate channel sizes (1 mm [small (S)] vs 2 mm [large (L)]). Scaffolds were fabricated into 20 × 20 × 7-mm blocks by use of a TheriForm machine (Integra Life Sciences, Akron, OH). Four groups of scaffolds were examined for pBMPC proliferation and penetration: group 1, β-TCP/PCL S; group 2, β-TCP/PCL L; group 3, PCL S; and group 4, PCL L. Nonparametric mean (Kruskal-Wallis) and multiple comparisons tests were used to compare the 4 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No shrinkage or deformation was noted in any of the scaffold groups after 2 weeks of culture. Mean surface cell counts ranged from 13.4 to 87.8 cells/0.57 mm(2), with group 1 (β-TCP/PCL S) having statistically significantly higher counts than the other groups (P < .001). Mean interior cell counts ranged from 10.9 to 75.6 cells/0.57 mm(2), with group 1 having the greatest interior cell count (P < .001). Total collagen formation ranged from 0.2% to 86%, with group 1 having the highest collagen formation (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3-dimensionally printed scaffold (β-TCP/PCL) with 1-mm channels showed greater cellular proliferation, penetration, and collagen formation after a 2-week in vitro culture than the other scaffolds evaluated. β-TCP/PCL S scaffolds warrant further evaluation for bone tissue engineering in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Buffalo General Hospital, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.forename: Caroline B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Faris
authors.forename: Harutsugi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abukawa
authors.forename: Srinivas M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Susarla
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vacanti
authors.forename: Leonard B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kaban
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Troulis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D011091:Polyesters; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011091:Polyesters; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; C016240:polycaprolactone