Fabrication of Cell Patches Using Biodegradable Scaffolds with a Hexagonal Array of Interconnected Pores (SHAIPs).
Cell patches are widely used for healing injuries on the surfaces or interfaces of tissues such as those of epidermis and myocardium. Here we report a novel type of porous scaffolds made of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) for fabricating cell patches. The scaffolds have a single layer of spherical pores arranged in a unique hexagonal pattern and are therefore referred to as "scaffolds with a hexagonal array of interconnected pores (SHAIPs)". SHAIPs contain both uniform pores and interconnecting windows that can facilitate the exchange of biomacromolecules, ensure homogeneous cell seeding, and promote cell migration. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we have created skeletal muscle patches with a thickness of approximately 150 μm using SHAIPs. The myoblasts seeded in the scaffolds maintained high viability and were able to differentiate into multi-nucleated myotubes. Moreover, neovasculature could efficiently develop into the patches upon subcutaneous implantationin vivo.
The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Yu Shrike
YS
Zhang
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Junjie
J
Yao
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Lihong V
LV
Wang
The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Younan
Y
Xia
C2C12 myoblasts; cell patches; photoacoustic microscopy; porous scaffolds; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering