title: Indirect Solid Freeform Fabrication of an Initiator-Free Photocrosslinkable Hydrogel Precursor for the Creation of Porous Scaffolds.
abstract: In the present work, a photopolymerized urethane-based poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel is applied as a porous scaffold material using indirect solid freeform fabrication (SFF). This approach combines the benefits of SFF with a large freedom in material selection and applicable concentration ranges. A sacrificial 3D poly(ε-caprolactone) structure is generated using fused deposition modeling and used as template to produce hydrogel scaffolds. By changing the template plotting parameters, the scaffold channel sizes vary from 280 to 360 μm, and the strut diameters from 340 to 400 μm. This enables the production of scaffolds with tunable mechanical properties, characterized by an average hardness ranging from 9 to 43 N and from 1 to 6 N for dry and hydrated scaffolds, respectively. Experiments using mouse calvaria preosteoblasts indicate that a gelatin methacrylamide coating of the scaffolds results in an increased cell adhesion and proliferation with improved cell morphology.
authors: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Annemie
authors: A
authors: Houben
authors: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Nele
authors: N
authors: Pien
authors: Materials in Medicine Group, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 75105, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Engineering Enzo Ferrari, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Pietro Vivarelli 10, 41125, Modena, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Bisi
authors: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.|Brussels Photonics Team, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors: Jasper
authors: J
authors: Van Hoorick
authors: UGCT - Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86/N12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Matthieu N
authors: MN
authors: Boone
authors: Allnex R&D, Allnex, Anderlechtstraat 33, 1620, Drogenbos, Belgium.
authors: Patrice
authors: P
authors: Roose
authors: Allnex R&D, Allnex, Anderlechtstraat 33, 1620, Drogenbos, Belgium.
authors: Hugues
authors: H
authors: Van den Bergen
authors: Allnex R&D, Allnex, Anderlechtstraat 33, 1620, Drogenbos, Belgium.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Bontinck
authors: Polymer Chemistry, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 75105, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Bowden
authors: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Dubruel
authors: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.|Brussels Photonics Team, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Van Vlierberghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010777:Photochemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: biocompatibility; hydrogels; photopolymerization; solid freeform fabrication; tissue engineering