title: Cryogel-PCL combination scaffolds for bone tissue repair.
abstract: The present work describes the development and the evaluation of cryogel-poly-ε-caprolactone combinatory scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Gelatin was selected as cell-interactive biopolymer to enable the adhesion and the proliferation of mouse calvaria pre-osteoblasts while poly-ε-caprolactone was applied for its mechanical strength required for the envisaged application. In order to realize suitable osteoblast carriers, methacrylamide-functionalized gelatin was introduced into 3D printed poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds created using the Bioplotter technology, followed by performing a cryogenic treatment which was concomitant with the redox-initiated, covalent crosslinking of the gelatin derivative (i.e. cryogelation). In a first part, the efficiency of the cryogelation process was determined using gel fraction experiments and by correlating the results with conventional hydrogel formation at room temperature. Next, the optimal cryogelation parameters were fed into the combinatory approach and the scaffolds developed were characterized for their structural and mechanical properties using scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography and compression tests respectively. In a final part, in vitro biocompatibility assays indicated a good colonization of the pre-osteoblasts and the attachment of viable cells onto the cryogenic network. However, the results also show that the cellular infiltration throughout the entire scaffold is suboptimal, which implies that the scaffold design should be optimized by reducing the cryogel density.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Rie
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Declercq
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hoorick
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dierick
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hoorebeke
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thienpont
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubruel
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001842:Bone and Bones; D059985:Cryogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D059985:Cryogels; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone