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16 pages, 9131 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication of a Polycaprolactone/Alginate Bipartite Hybrid Scaffold for Osteochondral Tissue Using a Three-Dimensional Bioprinting System

by JunJie Yu, SuJeong Lee, Sunkyung Choi, Kee K. Kim, Bokyeong Ryu, C-Yoon Kim, Cho-Rok Jung, Byoung-Hyun Min, Yuan-Zhu Xin, Su A Park, Wandoo Kim, Donghyun Lee and JunHee Lee

Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102203 - 25 Sep 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3555

Abstract

Osteochondral defects, including damage to both the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone, are challenging to repair. Although many technological advancements have been made in recent years, there are technical difficulties in the engineering of cartilage and bone layers, simultaneously. Moreover, there is [...] Read more.

Osteochondral defects, including damage to both the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone, are challenging to repair. Although many technological advancements have been made in recent years, there are technical difficulties in the engineering of cartilage and bone layers, simultaneously. Moreover, there is a great need for a valuable in vitro platform enabling the assessment of osteochondral tissues to reduce pre-operative risk. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting systems may be a promising approach for fabricating human tissues and organs. Here, we aimed to develop a polycaprolactone (PCL)/alginate bipartite hybrid scaffold using a multihead 3D bioprinting system. The hybrid scaffold was composed of PCL, which could improve the mechanical properties of the construct, and alginate, encapsulating progenitor cells that could differentiate into cartilage and bone. To differentiate the bipartite hybrid scaffold into osteochondral tissue, a polydimethylsiloxane coculture system for osteochondral tissue (PCSOT) was designed and developed. Based on evaluation of the biological performance of the novel hybrid scaffold, the PCL/alginate bipartite scaffold was successfully fabricated; importantly, our findings suggest that this PCSOT system may be applicable as an in vitro platform for osteochondral tissue engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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14 pages, 4376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amphipathic Substrates Based on Crosslinker-Free Poly(ε-Caprolactone):Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Semi-Interpenetrated Networks Promote Serum Protein Adsorption

by Guillermo Vilariño-Feltrer, Alfredo Salgado-Gallegos, Joan de-la-Concepción-Ausina, José Carlos Rodríguez-Hernández, Mohsen Shahrousvand and Ana Vallés-Lluch

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1256; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12061256 - 30 May 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

A simple procedure has been developed to synthesize uncrosslinked soluble poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) gels, ready for use in a subsequent fabrication stage. The presence of 75 wt % methanol (MetOH) or dimethylformamide (DMF) impedes lateral hydroxyl–hydroxyl hydrogen bonds between PHEMA macromers to form [...] Read more.

A simple procedure has been developed to synthesize uncrosslinked soluble poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) gels, ready for use in a subsequent fabrication stage. The presence of 75 wt % methanol (MetOH) or dimethylformamide (DMF) impedes lateral hydroxyl–hydroxyl hydrogen bonds between PHEMA macromers to form during their solution polymerization at 60 °C, up to 24 h. These gels remain soluble when properly stored in closed containers under cold conditions and, when needed, yield by solvent evaporation spontaneous physically-crosslinked PHEMA adapted to the mould used. Moreover, this two-step procedure allows obtaining multicomponent systems where a stable and water-affine PHEMA network would be of interest. In particular, amphiphilic polycaprolactone (PCL):PHEMA semi-interpenetrated (sIPN) substrates have been developed, from quaternary metastable solutions in chloroform (CHCl₃):MetOH 3:1 wt. and PCL ranging from 50 to 90 wt % in the polymer fraction (thus determining the composition of the solution). The coexistence of these countered molecules, uniformly distributed at the nanoscale, has proven to enhance the number and interactions of serum protein adsorbed from the acellular medium as compared to the homopolymers, the sIPN containing 80 wt % PCL showing an outstanding development. In accordance to the quaternary diagram presented, this protocol can be adapted for the development of polymer substrates, coatings or scaffolds for biomedical applications, not relying upon phase separation, such as the electrospun mats here proposed herein (12 wt % polymer solutions were used for this purpose, with PCL ranging from 50% to 100% in the polymer fraction). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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15 pages, 3718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxygen-Releasing Antibacterial Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

by Turdimuhammad Abdullah, Kalamegam Gauthaman, Ahmed H. Hammad, Kasturi Joshi Navare, Ahmed A. Alshahrie, Sidi A. Bencherif, Ali Tamayol and Adnan Memic

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1233; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12061233 - 29 May 2020

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5033

Abstract

Lack of suitable auto/allografts has been delaying surgical interventions for the treatment of numerous disorders and has also caused a serious threat to public health. Tissue engineering could be one of the best alternatives to solve this issue. However, deficiency of oxygen supply [...] Read more.

Lack of suitable auto/allografts has been delaying surgical interventions for the treatment of numerous disorders and has also caused a serious threat to public health. Tissue engineering could be one of the best alternatives to solve this issue. However, deficiency of oxygen supply in the wounded and implanted engineered tissues, caused by circulatory problems and insufficient angiogenesis, has been a rate-limiting step in translation of tissue-engineered grafts. To address this issue, we designed oxygen-releasing electrospun composite scaffolds, based on a previously developed hybrid polymeric matrix composed of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). By performing ball-milling, we were able to embed a large percent of calcium peroxide (CP) nanoparticles into the PGS/PCL nanofibers able to generate oxygen. The composite scaffold exhibited a smooth fiber structure, while providing sustainable oxygen release for several days to a week, and significantly improved cell metabolic activity due to alleviation of hypoxic environment around primary bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Moreover, the composite scaffolds also showed good antibacterial performance. In conjunction to other improved features, such as degradation behavior, the developed scaffolds are promising biomaterials for various tissue-engineering and wound-healing applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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15 pages, 3258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphology Dependence Degradation of Electro- and Magnetoactive Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) for Tissue Engineering Applications

by Luis Amaro, Daniela M. Correia, Pedro M. Martins, Gabriela Botelho, Sónia A. C. Carabineiro, Clarisse Ribeiro and Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez

Polymers 2020, 12(4), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040953 - 20 Apr 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3499

Abstract

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a piezoelectric biodegradable and biocompatible polymer suitable for tissue engineering applications. The incorporation of magnetostrictive cobalt ferrites (CFO) into PHBV matrix enables the production of magnetically responsive composites, which proved to be effective in the differentiation of a variety of [...] Read more.

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a piezoelectric biodegradable and biocompatible polymer suitable for tissue engineering applications. The incorporation of magnetostrictive cobalt ferrites (CFO) into PHBV matrix enables the production of magnetically responsive composites, which proved to be effective in the differentiation of a variety of cells and tissues. In this work, PHBV and PHBV with CFO nanoparticles were produced in the form of films, fibers and porous scaffolds and subjected to an experimental program allowing to evaluate the degradation process under biological conditions for a period up to 8 weeks. The morphology, physical, chemical and thermal properties were evaluated, together with the weight loss of the samples during the in vitro degradation assays. No major changes in the mentioned properties were found, thus proving its applicability for tissue engineering applications. Degradation was apparent from week 4 and onwards, leading to the conclusion that the degradation ratio of the material is suitable for a large range of tissue engineering applications. Further, it was found that the degradation of the samples maintain the biocompatibility of the materials for the pristine polymer, but can lead to cytotoxic effects when the magnetic CFO nanoparticles are exposed, being therefore needed, for magnetoactive applications, to substitute them by biocompatible ferrites, such as an iron oxide (Fe₃O₄). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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9 pages, 2515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biological Effects of Polyrotaxane Surfaces on Cellular Responses of Fibroblast, Preosteoblast and Preadipocyte Cell Lines

by Hiroki Masuda, Yoshinori Arisaka, Ruriko Sekiya-Aoyama, Tetsuya Yoda and Nobuhiko Yui

Polymers 2020, 12(4), 924; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040924 - 16 Apr 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2801

Abstract

Biointerfaces based on polyrotaxane (PRX), consisting of α-cyclodextrins (α-CDs) threaded on a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain, are promising functionalized platforms for culturing cells. PRXs are characterized by the molecular mobility of constituent molecules where the threading α-CDs can move and rotate along the [...] Read more.

Biointerfaces based on polyrotaxane (PRX), consisting of α-cyclodextrins (α-CDs) threaded on a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain, are promising functionalized platforms for culturing cells. PRXs are characterized by the molecular mobility of constituent molecules where the threading α-CDs can move and rotate along the PEG chain. Taking advantage of this mobility, we have previously succeeded in demonstrating the regulation of cellular responses, such as cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. In the present study, we investigated differences in the cellular responses to PRX surfaces versus commercially available tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) surfaces using fibroblasts, preosteoblasts, and preadipocytes. PRX surfaces were found to more significantly promote cellular proliferation than the TCPS surfaces, regardless of the cell type. To identify the signaling pathways involved in the activation of cellular proliferation, a DNA microarray analysis was performed. PRX surfaces showed a significant increase in the integrin-mediated cell adhesion and focal adhesion pathways. Furthermore, PRX surfaces also promoted osteoblast differentiation more than TCPS. These results suggest that structural features of PRX surfaces act as mechanical cues to dominate cellular proliferation and differentiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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13 pages, 2909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Thermal Damage Due to Two-Temperature High-Order Thermal Lagging in a Three-Dimensional Biological Tissue Subjected to a Rectangular Laser Pulse

by Hamdy M. Youssef and Najat. A. Alghamdi

Polymers 2020, 12(4), 922; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040922 - 16 Apr 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2044

Abstract

The use of lasers and thermal transfers on the skin is fundamental in medical and clinical treatments. In this paper, we constructed and applied bioheat transfer equations in the context of a two-temperature heat conduction model in order to discuss the three-dimensional variation [...] Read more.

The use of lasers and thermal transfers on the skin is fundamental in medical and clinical treatments. In this paper, we constructed and applied bioheat transfer equations in the context of a two-temperature heat conduction model in order to discuss the three-dimensional variation in the temperature of laser-irradiated biological tissue. The amount of thermal damage in the tissue was calculated using the Arrhenius integral. Mathematical difficulties were encountered in applying the equations. As a result, the Laplace and Fourier transform technique was employed, and solutions for the conductive temperature and dynamical temperature were obtained in the Fourier transform domain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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13 pages, 4528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PH-Sensitive, Polymer Functionalized, Nonporous Silica Nanoparticles for Quercetin Controlled Release

by Lin Xu, Hong-Liang Li and Li-Ping Wang

Polymers 2019, 11(12), 2026; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11122026 - 06 Dec 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3674

Abstract

Some pH-sensitive, poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) grafted silica nanoparticles (SNPs) (SNPs-g-PDEAEMA) were designed and synthesized via surface initiated, metal-free, photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structures of the polymers formed in solution were determined by ¹H NMR. The modified nanoparticles [...] Read more.

Some pH-sensitive, poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) grafted silica nanoparticles (SNPs) (SNPs-g-PDEAEMA) were designed and synthesized via surface initiated, metal-free, photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structures of the polymers formed in solution were determined by ¹H NMR. The modified nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS, GPC, TEM and TGA. The analytical results show that α-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) (ATRP initiator) had been successfully anchored onto SNPs’ surfaces, and was followed by surface-initiated, metal-free ATRP of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA). The resultant SNPs-g-PDEAEMA were uniform spherical nanoparticles with the particles size of about 22–25 nm, and the graft density of PDEAEMA on SNPs’ surfaces obtained by TGA was 19.98 μmol/m². Owing to the covalent grafting of pH-sensitive PDEAEMA, SNPs-g-PDEAEMA can dispersed well in acidic aqueous solution, but poorly in neutral and alkaline aqueous solutions, which is conducive to being employed as drug carriers to construct a pH-sensitive controlled drug delivery system. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation results showed that the cytotoxicity of SNPs-g-PDEAEMA to the L929 cells had completely disappeared on the 3rd day. The loading of quercetin on SNPs-g-PDEAEMA was performed using adsorption process from ethanol solutions, and the dialysis release rate increased sharply when the pH value of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) decreased from 7.4 to 5.5. All these results indicated that the pH-responsive microcapsules could serve as potential anti-cancer drug carriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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Review

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21 pages, 1667 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polymer-Based Scaffolds for Soft-Tissue Engineering

by Victor Perez-Puyana, Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado, Alberto Romero and Antonio Guerrero

Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1566; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071566 - 15 Jul 2020

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5048

Abstract

Biomaterials have been used since ancient times. However, it was not until the late 1960s when their development prospered, increasing the research on them. In recent years, the study of biomaterials has focused mainly on tissue regeneration, requiring a biomaterial that can support [...] Read more.

Biomaterials have been used since ancient times. However, it was not until the late 1960s when their development prospered, increasing the research on them. In recent years, the study of biomaterials has focused mainly on tissue regeneration, requiring a biomaterial that can support cells during their growth and fulfill the function of the replaced tissue until its regeneration. These materials, called scaffolds, have been developed with a wide variety of materials and processes, with the polymer ones being the most advanced. For this reason, the need arises for a review that compiles the techniques most used in the development of polymer-based scaffolds. This review has focused on three of the most used techniques: freeze-drying, electrospinning and 3D printing, focusing on current and future trends. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them have been compared. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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22 pages, 2274 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recent Advances in Tissue Adhesives for Clinical Medicine

by Liangpeng Ge and Shixuan Chen

Polymers 2020, 12(4), 939; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040939 - 18 Apr 2020

Cited by 86 | Viewed by 11473

Abstract

Tissue adhesives have attracted more attention to the applications of non-invasive wound closure. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the recent progress of developing tissue adhesives, which may inspire researchers to develop more outstanding tissue adhesives. It begins with a [...] Read more.

Tissue adhesives have attracted more attention to the applications of non-invasive wound closure. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the recent progress of developing tissue adhesives, which may inspire researchers to develop more outstanding tissue adhesives. It begins with a brief introduction to the emerging potential use of tissue adhesives in the clinic. Next, several critical mechanisms for adhesion are discussed, including van der Waals forces, capillary forces, hydrogen bonding, static electric forces, and chemical bonds. This article further details the measurement methods of adhesion and highlights the different types of adhesive, including natural or biological, synthetic and semisynthetic, and biomimetic adhesives. Finally, this review article concludes with remarks on the challenges and future directions for design, fabrication, and application of tissue adhesives in the clinic. This review article has promising potential to provide novel creative design principles for the generation of future tissue adhesives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering)

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