Preparation of three-dimensional scaffolds by using solid freeform fabrication and feasibility study of the scaffolds
2014
Kwon, Doo Yeon | Kwon, Jin Seon | Shim, Sun Woo | Park, Ji Hoon | Lee, Junhee | Kim, Jae Ho | Kim, Wan-doo | Kim, Moon Suk
To adapt biomaterials for solid freeform fabrication (SFF), methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG)-(PLLA-co-PCL) (LₓCy) block copolymers were prepared using MPEG as the initiator to precisely control the molecular weight of PLLA and PCL. The LₓCy block copolymers were designed such that the PLLA and PCL content varied and their molecular weights were within 200–1000 kDa. The cylindrical LₓCy scaffolds were prepared by using LₓCy block copolymers in SFF. The feasibility of using LₓCy block copolymers was examined in terms of flowability from the micronozzle and solidification at room temperature after scaffold printing. The flowability and solidification of LₓCy block copolymers mainly depend on the proportions of PLLA and PCL. Fabrication of the cylindrical LₓCy scaffolds by using SFF was rapid and showed high reproducibility. In in vivo implantation, the cylindrical LₓCy scaffolds exhibited biocompatibility and gradual biodegradation on a 16 week timescale. Immunohistochemical characterization showed that the in vivo LₓCy scaffolds elicit only a modest inflammatory response. Taken together, these results show that LₓCy block copolymers may serve as suitable biomaterials for the fabrication of well-defined three-dimensional scaffolds by using SFF.
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