Modifying the pores of an inverse opal scaffold with chitosan microstructures for truly three-dimensional cell culture.
Inverse opal scaffolds have recently emerged as a novel class of scaffolds with uniform and controllable pore sizes for tissue engineering to provide better nutrient transport, a uniform cell distribution, and an adjustable microenvironment for cell differentiation. However, when the pore size of the scaffold is much larger than the dimension of a cell, the cell actually encounters a local 2D environment and the void space associated with the pore can not be efficiently utilized. Here, we demonstrate that a truly 3D microenvironment can be created inside a pore by further functionalizing the as-prepared inverse opal scaffold with a second polymer by freeze-drying. The resultant inverse opal scaffold with hierarchically structured pores can enhance both cell proliferation and tissue infiltration.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Yu
Y
Zhang
Sung-Wook
SW
Choi
Younan
Y
Xia
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
D048271:Chitosan