Three-dimensional multi-component fibrous scaffolds for tissue regeneration

• Autor(a) principal: Almeida, Duarte Rafael Salgado de
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/35828
• topic: Electrospinning; PCL; Chitosan; Coating; Silicate; 3D; TISA; Nanofiber

Current bone reconstruction therapy strategies are too limited and cannot promote an effective regeneration of tissues. One of the main goals of the field of tissue engineering has been the development of scaffolds, which are porous, bioactive, biocompatible 3D structures that are capable of mimicking the extracellular matrix. This work aimed to develop and characterize scaffolds that could mimic the extracellular matrix of bone by developing a silicate coating, to increase the mechanical resistance and promote the osteogenesis and osteoconduction of cells. PCL/chitosan blends were electrospun to obtain bidimensional nanofibrous membranes, which were expanded into 3D structures through a novel technique named “thermally induced self-agglomeration” (TISA). 10% chitosan content nanofibrous scaffolds were obtained and compared with pure PCL ones. FTIR and thermal analysis confirmed the miscibility of PCL and chitosan and revealed the great resistance of the scaffolds to high temperatures. SEM images showed the formation of a vast web of interconnected nano and micropores, and estimated porosity calculations determined that all scaffolds were highly porous (above 99%), allowing mimicking of trabecular bone. A wettability study showed that the hydrophilicity of the scaffolds increased significantly when coated with SiO₂. A swelling study showed that the scaffolds presented a high capacity for water intake, that increased with the content of chitosan, and specially with the silicate coating. These studies indicate that the scaffolds meet the requirements for their use in tissue engineering.