Hybrid Additive Microfabrication Scaffold Incorporated with Highly Aligned Nanofibers for Musculoskeletal Tissues
10.1007/s13770-018-0169-z
- Author:
Dilshan SOORIYAARACHCHI
1
;
Hugo J MINIÈRE
;
Shahrima MAHARUBIN
;
George Z TAN
Author Information
1. Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, Texas Tech University, Box 43061, Lubbock, TX 79409-3061, USA. george.z.tan@ttu.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Musculoskeletal tissues;
Hybrid biofabrication;
Patterned fibrous microstructure;
3D printing;
Electrospinning
- MeSH:
Biomimetics;
Extracellular Matrix;
Fibroblasts;
Humans;
Methods;
Microtechnology;
Nanofibers;
Printing, Three-Dimensional;
Regeneration;
Skeleton;
Tissue Engineering;
Tissue Scaffolds
- From:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
2019;16(1):29-38
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Latest tissue engineering strategies for musculoskeletal tissues regeneration focus on creating a biomimetic microenvironment closely resembling the natural topology of extracellular matrix. This paper presents a novel musculoskeletal tissue scaffold fabricated by hybrid additive manufacturing method. METHODS: The skeleton of the scaffold was 3D printed by fused deposition modeling, and a layer of random or aligned polycaprolactone nanofibers were embedded between two frames. A parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of process parameters on nanofiber morphology. A compression test was performed to study the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Human fibroblast cells were cultured in the scaffold for 7 days to evaluate the effect of scaffold microstructure on cell growth. RESULTS: The tip-to-collector distance showed a positive correlation with the fiber alignment, and the electrospinning time showed a negative correlation with the fiber density. With reinforced nanofibers, the hybrid scaffold demonstrated superior compression strength compared to conventional 3D-printed scaffold. The hybrid scaffold with aligned nanofibers led to higher cell attachment and proliferation rates, and a directional cell organization. In addition, there was a nonlinear relationship between the fiber diameter/density and the cell actinfilament density. CONCLUSION: This hybrid biofabrication process can be established as a highly efficient and scalable platform to fabricate biomimetic scaffolds with patterned fibrous microstructure, and will facilitate future development of clinical solutions for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration.
