Search Results (106)

Three-dimensional printed polycaprolactone (PCL) tissue engineering scaffolds have drawn increasing interest from the medical industry due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, yet PCL’s poor mechanical performance has limited their applications. This study introduces a biocompatible and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) fiber reinforced PCL (PLA/PCL) composite as the filament for 3D printed scaffolds to significantly enhance their mechanical performance: Special-made PLA short fiber mat was infused with PCL matrix and rolled into PLA/PCL filaments through a “Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion” (VARI) process. The investigation revealed that the PLA fibers are highly oriented along the printing direction when using this filament for 3D printing due to the unique microstructure formed during the VARI process. At the same PLA fiber content, the percentage increase in Young’s modulus of the 3D printed strands using the filaments produced by the VARI process is 127.6% higher than the 3D printed strands using the filaments produced by the conventional melt blending process. The 3D printed tissue engineering scaffolds using the PLA/PCL composite filament with 11 wt% PLA fiber content also achieved an exceptional 84.2% and 143.3% increase in peak load and stiffness compared to the neat PCL counterpart. Full article

In recent years, significant progress has been made in breast reconstructive surgery, particularly with the use of three-dimensional (3D) disassemblable scaffolds. Reconstructive plastic surgery aimed at restoring the shape and size of the mammary gland offers medical, psychological, and social benefits. Using autologous tissues allows surgeons to recreate the appearance of the mammary gland and achieve tactile sensations similar to those of a healthy organ while minimizing the risks associated with implants; 3D disassemblable scaffolds are a promising solution that overcomes the limitations of traditional methods. These constructs offer the potential for patient-specific anatomical adaptation and can provide both temporary and long-term structural support for regenerating tissues. One of the most promising approaches in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction involves the use of autologous cellular and tissue components integrated into either synthetic scaffolds—such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL)—or naturally derived biopolymer-based matrices, including alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid derivatives, collagen, fibrin, gelatin, and silk fibroin. In this context, two complementary research directions are gaining increasing significance: (1) the development of novel hybrid biomaterials that combine the favorable characteristics of both synthetic and natural polymers while maintaining biocompatibility and biodegradability; and (2) the advancement of three-dimensional bioprinting technologies for the fabrication of patient-specific scaffolds capable of incorporating cellular therapies. Such therapies typically involve mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and bioactive signaling molecules, such as growth factors, aimed at promoting angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, and lineage-specific differentiation. In our review, we analyze existing developments in this area and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of 3D disassemblable scaffolds for mammary gland reconstruction, as well as prospects for their further research and clinical use. Full article

In the context of critical challenges in curcumin-modified polyurethane synthesis—including limited curcumin bioavailability and suboptimal biodegradability/biocompatibility—a novel polyurethane material (Cur-PU) with good mechanical, shape memory, pH-responsive, and biocompatibility was synthesized via a one-pot, two-step synthetic protocol in which HO-PCL-OH served as the soft segment and curcumin was employed as the chain extender. The experimental results demonstrate that with the increase in Cur units, the crystallinity of the Cur-PU material decreases from 32.6% to 5.3% and that the intensities of the diffraction peaks at 2θ = 21.36°, 21.97°, and 23.72° in the XRD pattern gradually diminish. Concomitantly, tensile strength decreased from 35.5 MPa to 19.3 MPa, and Shore A hardness declined from 88 HA to 65 HA. These observations indicate that the sterically hindered benzene ring structure of Cur imposes restrictions on HO-PCL-OH crystallization, leading to lower crystallinity and retarded crystallization kinetics in Cur-PU. As a consequence, the material’s tensile strength and hardness are diminished. Except for the Cur-PU-3 sample, all other variants exhibited exceptional shape-memory functionality, with R_f and R_r exceeding 95%, as determined by three-point bending method. Analogous to pure curcumin solutions, Cur-PU solutions demonstrated pH-responsive chromatic transitions: upon addition of hydroxide ion (OH⁻) solutions at increasing concentrations, the solutions shifted from yellow-green to dark green and finally to orange-yellow, enabling sensitive pH detection across alkaline gradients. Hydrolytic degradation studies conducted over 15 weeks in air, UPW, and pH 6.0/8.0 phosphate buffer solutions revealed mass loss <2% for Cur-PU films. Surface morphological analysis showed progressive etching with the formation of micro-to-nano-scale pores, indicative of a surface-erosion degradation mechanism consistent with pure PCL. Biocompatibility assessments via L929 mouse fibroblast co-culture experiments demonstrated ≥90% cell viability after 72 h, while relative red blood cell hemolysis rates remained below 5%. Collectively, these findings establish Cur-PU as a biocompatible material with tunable mechanical properties, and pH responsiveness, underscoring its translational potential for biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. Full article

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a synthetic plastic known for its excellent physicochemical properties and a wide range of applications in packaging, coatings, foaming, and agriculture. In medicine, its versatility allows it to function as a scaffold for drug delivery, sutures, implants, tissue engineering, and 3D printing. In addition to its biocompatibility, PCL’s most notable characteristic is its biodegradability. However, this property is affected by temperature, microbial activity, and environmental conditions, which means PCL can sometimes remain in nature for long periods. This review shows that various types of microorganisms can efficiently degrade PCL, including different strains of Pseudomonas spp., Streptomyces spp., Alcaligenes faecalis, and fungi like Aspergillus oryzae, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus delemar, and Thermomyces lanuginosus. These microorganisms produce enzymes such as lipases, esterases, and cutinases that break down PCL into smaller molecules that act as substrates. The review also examines the phylogenetic diversity of organisms capable of biodegrading PCL, the biochemical pathways involved in this process, and specific aspects of the genetic framework responsible for the expression of the enzymes that facilitate degradation. Targeted research on microbial PCL biodegradation and its practical applications could significantly aid in reducing and managing plastic waste on a global ecological scale. Full article

We compared the applicability of 3D fibrous scaffolds, produced by our patented centrifugal spinning technology, in soft tissue engineering. The scaffolds were prepared from four different biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics, namely, polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and poly(1,4-butylene succinate) (PBS) and their blends. The combined results of SEM and BET analyses revealed an internal hierarchically organized porosity of the polymeric micro/nanofibers. Both nanoporosity and capillary effect are crucial for the water retention capacity of scaffolds designed for tissue engineering. The increased surface area provided by nanoporosity enhances water retention, while the capillary effect facilitates the movement of water and nutrients within the scaffolds. When the scaffolds were seeded with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), the ingrowth of these cells was the deepest in the PLA/PCL 13.5/4 (w/w) composite scaffolds. This result is consistent with the relatively large pore size in the fibrous networks, the high internal porosity, and the large specific surface area found in these scaffolds, which may therefore be best suited as a component of adipose tissue substitutes that could reduce postoperative tissue atrophy. Adipose tissue constructs produced in this way could be used in the future instead of conventional fat grafts, for example, in breast reconstruction following cancer ablation. Full article

Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for improved regeneration of native tissue and could increase the quality of life of many patients. However, the treatment of injured tissue transitions is still in its early stages, relying primarily on a purely physical approach in medical surgery. A biodegradable implant with a modified surface that is capable of biological active protein delivery via a nanoparticulate release system could advance the field of musculoskeletal disorder treatments enormously. In this study, interconnected 3D macroporous scaffolds based on Polycaprolactone (PCL) were fabricated in a successive process of blending, annealing and leaching. Blending with varying parts of Polyethylene oxide (PEO), NaCl and (powdered) sucrose and altering processing conditions yielded scaffolds with a huge variety of morphologies. The resulting unmodified hydrophobic scaffolds were modified using two graft polymers (CS-g-PCL_x) with x = 29 and 56 (x = PCL units per chitosan unit). Due to the chitosan backbone hydrophilicity was increased and a platform for a versatile nanoparticulate release system was introduced. The graft polymers were synthesized via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-Caprolactone using hydroxy groups of the chitosan backbone as initiators (grafting from). The suspected impact on biocompatibility of the modification was investigated by in vitro cell testing. In addition, the CS-g-PCL modification opened up the possibility of Layer by Layer (LbL) coating with alginate (ALG) and TGF-β₃-loaded chitosan tripolyphosphate (CS-TGF-β₃-TPP) nanoparticles. The subsequent release study showed promising amounts of growth factor released regarding successful in vitro cell differentiation and therefore could have a possible therapeutic impact. Full article

This article investigates the influence of different solvents on the mechanical properties of biocompatible and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. During the research, using electrospinning technology, 27 samples of polycaprolactone nanofibers exposed to different solvents were produced. A tensile test was performed on the produced nanofiber samples, and the nanofiber mechanical properties, yield strength, elastic modulus, and elastic elongation were calculated, and load–displacement and stress–strain dependence diagrams were compared from the obtained results. The strongest nanofiber was singled out, and its mechanical properties were compared with those of biological tissues and its application in tissue engineering. The structure was determined using a scanning electron microscope, and the structures of nanofibers exposed to different solvents were compared. After calculating the influence of different solvents on the mechanical properties of the nanofibers, the strongest structure was identified, PCL and chloroform, which has an elastic modulus of 9.86 MPa and a yield strength of 1.11 ± 0.32 MPa. The type of solvent used in the production of the solution affects the homogeneity of the fibre and the shape of the filaments. In solvents with lower viscosity, the fibre filaments are more homogeneous and more evenly distributed. Full article

Polymers have become essential in advancing bone tissue engineering, providing adaptable bone healing and regeneration solutions. Their biocompatibility and biodegradability make them ideal candidates for creating scaffolds that mimic the body’s natural extracellular matrix (ECM). However, significant challenges remain, including degradation by-products, insufficient mechanical strength, and suboptimal cellular interactions. This article addresses these challenges by evaluating the performance of polymers like poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLA) in scaffold development. It also explores recent innovations, such as intelligent polymers, bioprinting, and the integration of bioactive molecules to enhance scaffold efficacy. We propose that overcoming current limitations requires a combination of novel biomaterials, advanced fabrication techniques, and tailored regulatory strategies. The future potential of polymer-based scaffolds in personalised regenerative medicine is discussed, focusing on their clinical applicability. Full article

Void fillers are required for osseous gaps generated after orthopedic procedures as medial open-wedge high-tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) to provide sufficient structural support and a rapid osteosynthesis. We developed a novel three-dimensional (3D) printing-based platform technology using the customized 3D scaffolds covered with polycaprolactone (PCL)/β-tri-calcium phosphates (β-TCP)/bone decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) for use as bone substitute scaffold, which can be effectively exploited to estimate the calculated correction angle with preoperative simulations. PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM scaffolds demonstrated significantly higher cell contain levels in cell seeding efficiency, excellent proliferation capacity, and promotion of early osteogenic differentiation compared with PCL/β-TCP scaffolds. The scaffolds promoted bone mineralization at the early time points of an in vivo study (8 weeks) and exhibited biodegradable properties (38% for 16 weeks). The correction angle measured after osteotomy using 3D printed scaffolds was estimated with high accuracy with low errors (10.3° ± 0.9°) and was not significantly different even in the presence of lateral cortical hinge fractures. The customized 3D scaffold enriched with PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM yielded excellent cell seeding efficiency, proliferation capacity, early osteogenic differentiation, and bone mineralization outcomes. It is expected to solve the disadvantages related to bone union in MOWHTO and to replace autografts in the future. Full article

Tissue engineering has great potential for the restoration of damaged tissue due to injury or disease. During tissue development, scaffolds provide structural support for cell growth. To grow healthy tissue, the principal components of such scaffolds must be biocompatible and nontoxic. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a biopolymer that has been used as a key component of composite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications due to its mechanical strength and biodegradability. However, PCL alone can have low cell adherence and wettability. Blends of biomaterials can be incorporated to achieve synergistic scaffold properties for tissue engineering. Electrospun PCL-based scaffolds consist of single or blended-composition nanofibers and nanofibers with multi-layered internal architectures (i.e., core-shell nanofibers or multi-layered nanofibers). Nanofiber diameter, composition, and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and drug-loading capacity are among the tunable properties of electrospun PCL-based scaffolds. Scaffold properties including wettability, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility have been further enhanced with scaffold layering, surface modification, and coating techniques. In this article, we review nanofibrous electrospun PCL-based scaffold fabrication and the applications of PCL-based scaffolds in tissue engineering as reported in the recent literature. Full article

The synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) is gaining wide-ranging interest due to their broad applicability, owing to their small size and luminescence. CDs were prepared from charcoal via a one-step process using laser ablation in liquid without the use of reagents. The adopted method was based on the use of a commercially available continuous wave (CW) laser diode emitting a 450 nm wavelength and, for the liquid, a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, routinely used in the biological field. Photoluminescence analysis revealed fluorescence, at 480 nm, increasing with laser irradiation time. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the CDs revealed an average sphere shape with a size of about 10 nm. Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL), typically adopted in biomedicine applications, was used as a matrix to show the preserved luminescence, ideal for the non-invasive monitoring of implanted scaffolds in tissue engineering. Full article

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester that might be used in tissue engineering to obtain scaffolds for bone reconstruction using 3D-printing technologies. New material compositions based on PCL, with improved physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility, would improve its applicability in bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to assess the potential toxic effects of PCL-based composite materials containing 5% hydroxyapatite (PCL/SHAP), 5% bioglass (PCL/BIO), or 5% chitosan (PCL/CH) on MG-63 human fibroblast-like cells in vitro. Material tests were carried out using X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis/thermal gravimetry, BET specific surface analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the biomaterials on the MG-63 cells was then assessed based on toxicity tests using indirect and direct contact methods. The analysis showed that the tested biomaterials did not significantly affect cell morphology, viability, proliferation, or migration. We concluded that biodegradable PCL-based scaffolds may be suitable for tissue scaffold production, and the addition of bioglass improves the growth of cultured cells. Full article

This work investigates the essential constituents, production methods, and properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) and Baghdadite fibrous scaffolds. In this research, electrospinning was used to produce fiber ropes. In this study, the Baghdadite powder was synthesized using the sol–gel method and incorporated into PCL’s polymeric matrix in formic acid and acetic acid solvents. The present work examined PCL–Baghdadite fibrous scaffolds at 1%, 3%, and 5 wt% for morphology, fiber diameter size, hydrophilicity, porosity, mechanical properties, degradability, and bioactivity. The introduction of Baghdadite nanopowder into pure PCL scaffolds reduced fiber diameter. The wetting angle decreased when Baghdadite nanopowder was added to fibrous scaffolds. Pure PCL reduced the wetting angle from 93.20° to 70.53°. Fibrous PCL scaffolds with Baghdadite nanopowder have better mechanical characteristics. The tensile strength of pure PCL fibers was determined at 2.08 ± 0.2 MPa, which was enhanced by up to 3 wt% by adding Baghdadite nanopowder. Fiber elasticity increased with tensile strength. Baghdadite at a 5% weight percentage reduced failure strain percentage. Fibers with more Baghdadite nanopowder biodegrade faster. Adding Baghdadite ceramic nanoparticles resulted in increased bioactivity and caused scaffolds to generate hydroxyapatite. The results show that Baghdadite PCL-3 wt% fibers have promising shape, diameter, and mechanical qualities. After 24 h, L-929 fibroblast cell viability was greater in the scaffold with 3% Baghdadite weight compared to the pure PCL. PCL-3 wt% Baghdadite fibers generated hydroxyapatite on the surface and degraded well. Based on the above findings, PCL fibers having 3 wt% of Baghdadite are the best sample for tissue engineering applications that heal flaws. Full article

This study investigated gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) blend scaffolds incorporating cerium oxide (CeO) nanoparticles at concentrations of 0%, 5%, and 10% w/w via electrospinning for periodontal tissue engineering. The impact of photocrosslinking on these scaffolds was evaluated by comparing crosslinked (C) and non-crosslinked (NC) versions. Methods included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for fiber morphology/diameters, and assessments of swelling capacity, degradation profile, and biomechanical properties. Biological evaluations with alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (aBMSCs) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) encompassed tests for cell viability, mineralized nodule deposition (MND), and collagen production (CP). Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis or ANOVA/post-hoc tests (α = 5%). Results indicate that C scaffolds had larger fiber diameters (~250 nm) compared with NC scaffolds (~150 nm). NC scaffolds exhibited higher swelling capacities than C scaffolds, while both types demonstrated significant mass loss (~50%) after 60 days (p < 0.05). C scaffolds containing CeO showed increased Young’s modulus and tensile strength than NC scaffolds. Cells cultured on C scaffolds with 10% CeO exhibited significantly higher metabolic activity (>400%, p < 0.05) after 7 days among all groups. Furthermore, CeO-containing scaffolds promoted enhanced MND by aBMSCs (>120%, p < 0.05) and increased CP in 5% CeO scaffolds for both variants (>180%, p < 0.05). These findings underscore the promising biomechanical properties, biodegradability, cytocompatibility, and enhanced tissue regenerative potential of CeO-loaded GelMA/PCL scaffolds for periodontal applications. Full article

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is an important field of research, essential in order to heal bone defects or replace impaired tissues and organs. As one of the most used additive manufacturing processes, 3D printing can produce biostructures in the field of tissue engineering for bones, orthopaedic tissues, and organs. Scaffold manufacturing techniques and suitable materials with final structural, mechanical properties, and the biological response of the implanted biomaterials are an essential part of BTE. In fact, the scaffold is an essential component for tissue engineering where cells can attach, proliferate, and differentiate to develop functional tissue. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is commonly employed in the 3D printing of tissue-engineering scaffolds. Scaffolds must have a good architecture, considering the porosity, permeability, degradation, and healing capabilities. In fact, the architecture of a scaffold is crucial, influencing not only the physical and mechanical properties but also the cellular behaviours of mesenchymal stem cells. Cells placed on/or within the scaffolds is a standard approach in tissue engineering. For bio-scaffolds, materials that are biocompatible and biodegradable, and can support cell growth are the ones chosen. These include polymers like polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and certain bioglass or composite materials. This work comprehensively integrates aspects related to the optimisation of biocompatible and biodegradable composites with the low cost, simple, and stable FDM technology to successfully prepare the best designed composite porous bone-healing scaffolds. FDM can be used to produce low-cost bone scaffolds, with a suitable porosity and permeability. Full article