Bioprinting with Bioactive Glass Loaded Polylactic Acid Composite and Human Adipose Stem Cells

Abstract

Cellularized scaffolds fabricated with hydrogel do not possess sufficient strength to act as stand-alone implant devices for hard tissue repair and regeneration. A thermoplastic polymer support structure typically provides the structural integrity to scaffolds while cells and growth factors in hydrogel provide biological stimulation for tissue formation. In this research, we investigated the viability of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) mixed in an alginate-gelatin (1:1) hydrogel (bioink) that is deposited between polylactic acid (PLA)-borate glass composite filaments. Bioactive borate glass (13-93B3, also called B3 glass) is a rapidly dissolving biomaterial, and the physiologically relevant ionic dissolution products are known to stimulate cells in vitro and endogenous tissues in vivo. B3 glass was added to PLA in two different weight ratios (50% and 33%) to form PLA + B3 glass composites, and the weight loss over time of the 3D printed composite scaffold, pH change of the surrounding media, and mechanical properties were investigated. Physical assessment of the composite scaffolds indicated improved mechanical properties and complete glass dissolution within two weeks. Cellularized scaffolds were bioprinted in three configurations: Bioink only, PLA + Bioink, and PLA + B3 glass + Bioink, and cultured in dynamic conditions to investigate ASC viability. The results indicated a non-uniform cell viability along the scaffold thickness, with hypoxic-like conditions and lower viability at the bottom region to higher viability in the top layers of the scaffold.

Department(s)

Biological Sciences

Second Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Third Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Intelligent Systems Center

Comments

This research is funded by the Intelligent Systems Center and the Center for Biomedical Research at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Keywords and Phrases

Bioprinting; Alginate-gelatin bioink; Bioactive borate glass; Polylactic acid/bioactive glass composite; Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; Cell viability

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

2405-8866

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2020 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2020

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