title: Biomimetic design and fabrication of porous chitosan–gelatin liver scaffolds with hierarchical channel network.
abstract: The presence of a hierarchical channel network in tissue engineering scaffold is essential to construct metabolically demanding liver tissue with thick and complex structures. In this research, chitosan–gelatin (C/G) scaffolds with fine three-dimensional channels were fabricated using indirect solid freeform fabrication and freeze-drying techniques. Fabrication processes were studied to create predesigned hierarchical channel network inside C/G scaffolds and achieve desired porous structure. Static in-vitro cell culture test showed that HepG2 cells attached on both micro-pores and micro-channels in C/G scaffolds successfully. HepG2 proliferated at much higher rates on C/G scaffolds with channel network, compared with those without channels. This approach demonstrated a promising way to engineer liver scaffolds with hierarchical channel network, and may lead to the development of thick and complex liver tissue equivalent in the future.
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Jephte
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agustin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wootton
authors.forename: Jack G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005615:Freezing; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008099:Liver; D008422:Materials Testing; D016062:Porosity; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D005780:Gelatin; D048271:Chitosan