Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 20758

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Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Interests: biomaterials; gene carriers; tissue engineering; biomechanics; cancer therapy; adult stem cells

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Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
Interests: bioreactors; bioinspired nanomaterials; tissue engineering; 3D printing; self-assembly
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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Machinery Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea
Interests: 3 Bioprinting, Polymers, Bioceramics, Composite Scaffolds, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

3D printing technology using polymers is an important tool in the field of tissue engineering and the field of regenerative medicine. 3D printed polymer/bioceramic composite scaffolds are necessary for replacing damaged organs and regenerating irreplaceable parts of the human body from living tissues to organs. In particular, 3D printed polymer composite scaffolds are required for the tailored treatment of patients. The polymer/bioceramic composite scaffolds can have a good wettability, strong mechanical strength, and high biocompatibility for cells and tissues, as ceramics make up for the weakness of polymers. The fabricating method of polymer composite scaffolds are very important, because it affects their functionality and biocompatibility as replaced tissues or organs. In addition, the characteristics of polymer composite scaffolds should be investigated in view of biocompatibility through in-vitro tests. The application of polymer composite scaffolds should also be validated in some animal models.

Prof. Dr.Jong Hoon Chung
Prof. Dr. Ki-Taek Lim
Prof. Dr. Hoon Seonwoo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • Polymer
  • Composite Scaffolds
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Stem Cells
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Gene Delivery Systems

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Development of a Multi-Layer Skin Substitute Using Human Hair Keratinic Extract-Based Hybrid 3D Printing
by Won Seok Choi, Joo Hyun Kim, Chi Bum Ahn, Ji Hyun Lee, Yu Jin Kim, Kuk Hui Son and Jin Woo Lee
Polymers 2021, 13(16), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162584 - 04 Aug 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3302
Abstract
Large-sized or deep skin wounds require skin substitutes for proper healing without scar formation. Therefore, multi-layered skin substitutes that mimic the genuine skin anatomy of multiple layers have attracted attention as suitable skin substitutes. In this study, a novel skin substitute was developed [...] Read more.
Large-sized or deep skin wounds require skin substitutes for proper healing without scar formation. Therefore, multi-layered skin substitutes that mimic the genuine skin anatomy of multiple layers have attracted attention as suitable skin substitutes. In this study, a novel skin substitute was developed by combining the multi-layer skin tissue reconstruction method with the combination of a human-derived keratinic extract-loaded nano- and micro-fiber using electrospinning and a support structure using 3D printing. A polycaprolactone PCL/keratin electrospun scaffold showed better cell adhesion and proliferation than the keratin-free PCL scaffold, and keratinocytes and fibroblasts showed better survival, adhesion, and proliferation in the PCL/keratin electrospun nanofiber scaffold and microfiber scaffold, respectively. In a co-culture of keratinocytes and fibroblasts using a multi-layered scaffold, the two cells formed the epidermis and dermal layer on the PCL/keratin scaffold without territorial invasion. In the animal study, the PCL/keratin scaffold caused a faster regeneration of new skin without scar formation compared to the PCL scaffold. Our study showed that PCL/keratin scaffolds co-cultured with keratinocytes and fibroblasts promoted the regeneration of the epidermal and dermal layers in deep skin defects. Such finding suggests a new possibility for artificial skin production using multiple cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering)
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16 pages, 3389 KiB  
Article
Biofabrication of Cell-Laden Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogels with Incorporation of Silanized Hydroxyapatite by Visible Light Projection
by Jimmy Jiun-Ming Su, Chih-Hsin Lin, Hsuan Chen, Shyh-Yuan Lee and Yuan-Min Lin
Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142354 - 18 Jul 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3219
Abstract
Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel is a photopolymerizable biomaterial widely used for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture due to its high biocompatibility. However, the drawback of GelMA hydrogel is its poor mechanical properties, which may compromise the feasibility of biofabrication techniques. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel is a photopolymerizable biomaterial widely used for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture due to its high biocompatibility. However, the drawback of GelMA hydrogel is its poor mechanical properties, which may compromise the feasibility of biofabrication techniques. In this study, a cell-laden GelMA composite hydrogel with a combination incorporating silanized hydroxyapatite (Si-HAp) and a simple and harmless visible light crosslinking system for this hydrogel were developed. The incorporation of Si-HAp into the GelMA hydrogel enhanced the mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel. Moreover, the composite hydrogel exhibited low cytotoxicity and promoted the osteogenic gene expression of embedded MG63 cells and Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). We also established a maskless lithographic method to fabricate a defined 3D structure under visible light by using a digital light processing projector, and the incorporation of Si-HAp increased the resolution of photolithographic hydrogels. The GelMA-Si-HAp composite hydrogel system can serve as an effective biomaterial in bone regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering)
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16 pages, 1899 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Osteogenesis of Dental Pulp Stem Cells In Vitro Induced by Chitosan–PEG-Incorporated Calcium Phosphate Cement
by Jae Eun Kim, Sangbae Park, Woong-Sup Lee, Jinsub Han, Jae Woon Lim, Seung Jeong, Myung Chul Lee, Woo-Young Yang, Hoon Seonwoo, B. Moon Kim, Yun-Hoon Choung, Kyoung-Je Jang and Jong Hoon Chung
Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142252 - 09 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2385
Abstract
The use of bone graft materials is required for the treatment of bone defects damaged beyond the critical defect; therefore, injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is actively used after surgery. The application of various polymers to improve injectability, mechanical strength, and biological function [...] Read more.
The use of bone graft materials is required for the treatment of bone defects damaged beyond the critical defect; therefore, injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is actively used after surgery. The application of various polymers to improve injectability, mechanical strength, and biological function of injection-type CPC is encouraged. We previously developed a chitosan–PEG conjugate (CS/PEG) by a sulfur (VI) fluoride exchange reaction, and the resulting chitosan derivative showed high solubility at a neutral pH. We have demonstrated the CPC incorporated with a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted chitosan (CS/PEG) and developed CS/PEG CPC. The characterization of CS/PEG CPC was conducted using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The initial properties of CS/PEG CPCs, such as the pH, porosity, mechanical strength, zeta potential, and in vitro biocompatibility using the WST-1 assay, were also investigated. Moreover, osteocompatibility of CS/PEG CPCs was carried out via Alizarin Red S staining, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot analysis. CS/PEG CPC has enhanced mechanical strength compared to CPC, and the cohesion test also demonstrated in vivo stability. Furthermore, we determined whether CS/PEG CPC is a suitable candidate for promoting the osteogenic ability of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC). The elution of CS/PEG CPC entraps more calcium ion than CPC, as confirmed through the zeta potential test. Accordingly, the ion trapping effect of CS/PEG is considered to have played a role in promoting osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. The results strongly suggested that CS/PEG could be used as suitable additives for improving osteogenic induction of bone substitute materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering)
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11 pages, 3979 KiB  
Communication
Aligned Nanofiber-Guided Bone Regeneration Barrier Incorporated with Equine Bone-Derived Hydroxyapatite for Alveolar Bone Regeneration
by Jae Woon Lim, Kyoung-Je Jang, Hyunmok Son, Sangbae Park, Jae Eun Kim, Hong Bae Kim, Hoon Seonwoo, Yun-Hoon Choung, Myung Chul Lee and Jong Hoon Chung
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010060 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2591
Abstract
Post-surgery failure of dental implants due to alveolar bone loss is currently critical, disturbing the quality of life of senior dental patients. To overcome this problem, bioceramic or bone graft material is loaded into the defect. However, connective tissue invasion instead of osteogenic [...] Read more.
Post-surgery failure of dental implants due to alveolar bone loss is currently critical, disturbing the quality of life of senior dental patients. To overcome this problem, bioceramic or bone graft material is loaded into the defect. However, connective tissue invasion instead of osteogenic tissue limits bone tissue regeneration. The guided bone regeneration concept was adapted to solve this problem and still has room for improvements, such as biochemical similarity or oriented structure. In this article, an aligned electrospun-guided bone regeneration barrier with xenograft equine bone-derived nano hydroxyapatite (EBNH-RB) was fabricated by electrospinning EBNH/PCL solution on high-speed rotating drum collector and fiber characterization, viability and differentiation enhancing properties of mesenchymal dental pulp stem cell on the barrier was determined. EBNH-RB showed biochemical and structural similarity to natural bone tissue electron microscopy image analysis and x-ray diffractometer analysis, and had a significantly better effect in promoting osteogenesis based on the increased bioceramic content by promoting cell viability, calcium deposition and osteogenic marker expression, suggesting that they can be successfully applied to regenerate alveolar bone as a guided bone regeneration barrier. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering)
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Review

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19 pages, 3817 KiB  
Review
The Application of Polycaprolactone in Three-Dimensional Printing Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
by Xiangjun Yang, Yuting Wang, Ying Zhou, Junyu Chen and Qianbing Wan
Polymers 2021, 13(16), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162754 - 17 Aug 2021
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 8443
Abstract
Bone tissue engineering commonly encompasses the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to provide a suitable microenvironment for the propagation of cells to regenerate damaged tissues or organs. 3D printing technology has been extensively applied to allow direct 3D scaffolds manufacturing. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has [...] Read more.
Bone tissue engineering commonly encompasses the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to provide a suitable microenvironment for the propagation of cells to regenerate damaged tissues or organs. 3D printing technology has been extensively applied to allow direct 3D scaffolds manufacturing. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been widely used in the fabrication of 3D scaffolds in the field of bone tissue engineering due to its advantages such as good biocompatibility, slow degradation rate, the less acidic breakdown products in comparison to other polyesters, and the potential for loadbearing applications. PCL can be blended with a variety of polymers and hydrogels to improve its properties or to introduce new PCL-based composites. This paper describes the PCL used in developing state of the art of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. In this review, we provide an overview of the 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of PCL-based composite scaffolds and recent studies on applications in different clinical situations. For instance, PCL-based composite scaffolds were used as an implant surgical guide in dental treatment. Furthermore, future trend and potential clinical translations will be discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composite Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering)
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