Layered PCL scaffolds modified with bioactive additives fabricated by electrospinning and 3D-printing for the nasal bone and cartilage defects

Abstract

This paper presents a method for fabricating layered materials supporting the reconstruction of nasal tissues by combining the 3D/fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology with electrospinning (ES). Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds modified with bioglass (BG) and zinc (Zn)-doped BG were printed from the connectable filaments sticks. Then, using the ES, a nanofibrous membrane with particles of the pharmaceutical drug Osteogenon (OST), was applied directly on a spatial scaffold. The layered scaffolds were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-computed tomography (µCT). The bioactivity and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were evaluated by in vitro studies. The results indicated that the presence of the OST drug in the top layer of scaffolds promoted bioactivity. The presence of a membrane had a positive effect on the production and secretion of aggrecan (Agg), and incorporation of BG particles significantly improved the production and secretion of collagen type II (Col2). Each of the introduced PCL modifications leads to articular cartilage cell (NHAC-kn) viability improvement and results in a decrease in the cytotoxicity of the material. Moreover, in the long-term culture, cell proliferation was positively affected by the introduction of the OST-modified membrane and also by the addition of Zn-doped BG particles.

Keywords

• Polycaprolactone
• 3D-printing
• Electrospinning
• Bioglass
• Zn-doped bioglass
• Drug