Three Dimensional Tissue Scaffolds from Inter-bonded PCL Fibrous Matrices with Controlled Porosity

Periodical: Tissue Eng Part C Methods ISBN: 1937-3392 (Electronic) 1937-3384 (Linking)  Date: 2010/08/31  Language: Eng

Authors:Tang, Y., Wong, C. S., Wang, H., Sutti, A., Kirkland, M., Wang, X., Lin, T.

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Abstract
In this paper, we report on the preparation and cell-culture performance of a novel fibrous matrix that has an inter-bonded fiber architecture, excellent pore interconnectivity and controlled pore size and porosity. The fibrous matrices were prepared by combining melt-bonding of short synthetic fibers with a template leaching technique. The micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy imaging verified that the fibers in the matrix were highly bonded, forming unique isotropic pore architectures. The average pore size and porosity of the fibrous matrices were controlled by the fiber/template ratio. The matrices having the average pore size of 120, 207, 813 and 994 microm, with the respective porosity of 73%, 88%, 96% and 97%, were investigated. The applicability of the matrix as a three-dimensional (3D) tissue scaffold for cell culture was demonstrated with two cell lines, rat skin fibroblast and Chinese hamster ovary, and the influences of the matrix porosity and surface area on the cell culture performance were examined. Both cell lines grew successfully in the matrices, but they showed different preferences in pore size and porosity. Compared to 2D tissue culture plates, the cell number on 3D fibrous matrices was increased by 97.27% for the CHO cells and 49.46% for the fibroblasts after 21 days of culture. The fibroblasts in the matrices not only grew along the fiber surface but also bridged among the fibers, which was much different to those on 2D scaffolds. Such an inter-bonded fibrous matrix may be useful for developing new fiber-based 3D tissue scaffolds for various cell-culture applications.