title: Fabrication and evaluation of electrohydrodynamic jet 3D printed polycaprolactone/chitosan cell carriers using human embryonic stem cell-derived fibroblasts.
abstract: Biological function of adherent cells depends on the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in three-dimensional space. To understand the behavior of cells in 3D environment and their interactions with neighboring cells and matrix requires 3D culture systems. Here, we present a novel 3D cell carrier scaffold that provides an environment for routine 3D cell growth in vitro We have developed thin, mechanically stable electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) 3D printed polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/Chitosan macroporous scaffolds with precise fiber orientation for basic 3D cell culture application. We have evaluated the application of this technology by growing human embryonic stem cell-derived fibroblasts within these 3D scaffolds. Assessment of cell viability and proliferation of cells seeded on polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/Chitosan 3D-scaffolds show that the human embryonic stem cell-derived fibroblasts could adhere and proliferate on the scaffolds over time. Further, using confocal microscopy we demonstrate the ability to use fluorescence-labelled cells that could be microscopically monitored in real-time. Hence, these 3D printed polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/Chitosan scaffolds could be used as a cell carrier for in vitro 3D cell culture-, bioreactor- and tissue engineering-related applications in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Gopu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sriram
authors.affiliation: Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Amr S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fawzy
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, People's Republic of China jerry.fuh@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Jerry Yh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fuh
authors.affiliation: Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Vinicius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Tissue Engineering Program, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yoke San
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Electrohydrodynamic jet 3D printing; biomaterials; chitosan; fibroblasts; human embryonic stem cells; polycaprolactone; tissue engineering