Gomes M E, Azevedo H S, Moreira A R, Ellä V, Kellomäki M, Reis R L
3Bs Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2008 Jul;2(5):243-52. doi: 10.1002/term.89.
In scaffold-based tissue engineering strategies, the successful regeneration of tissues from matrix-producing connective tissue cells or anchorage-dependent cells (e.g. osteoblasts) relies on the use of a suitable scaffold. This study describes the development and characterization of SPCL (starch with epsilon-polycaprolactone, 30:70%) and SPLA [starch with poly(lactic acid), 30:70%] fibre-meshes, aimed at application in bone tissue-engineering strategies. Scaffolds based on SPCL and SPLA were prepared from fibres obtained by melt-spinning by a fibre-bonding process. The porosity of the scaffolds was characterized by microcomputerized tomography (microCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Scaffold degradation behaviour was assessed in solutions containing hydrolytic enzymes (alpha-amylase and lipase) in physiological concentrations, in order to simulate in vivo conditions. Mechanical properties were also evaluated in compression tests. The results show that these scaffolds exhibit adequate porosity and mechanical properties to support cell adhesion and proliferation and also tissue ingrowth upon implantation of the construct. The results of the degradation studies showed that these starch-based scaffolds are susceptible to enzymatic degradation, as detected by increased weight loss (within 2 weeks, weight loss in the SPCL samples reached 20%). With increasing degradation time, the diameter of the SPCL and SPLA fibres decreases significantly, increasing the porosity and consequently the available space for cells and tissue ingrowth during implantation time. These results, in combination with previous cell culture studies showing the ability of these scaffolds to induce cell adhesion and proliferation, clearly demonstrate the potential of these scaffolds to be used in tissue engineering strategies to regenerate bone tissue defects.
在基于支架的组织工程策略中，由产生基质的结缔组织细胞或锚定依赖性细胞（如成骨细胞）成功再生组织依赖于使用合适的支架。本研究描述了SPCL（淀粉与ε-聚己内酯，30:70%）和SPLA[淀粉与聚乳酸，30:70%]纤维网的开发与特性，旨在应用于骨组织工程策略。基于SPCL和SPLA的支架由通过纤维粘结工艺熔融纺丝获得的纤维制备而成。通过微计算机断层扫描（microCT）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对支架的孔隙率进行了表征。在含有生理浓度水解酶（α-淀粉酶和脂肪酶）的溶液中评估支架的降解行为，以模拟体内条件。还通过压缩试验评估了力学性能。结果表明，这些支架具有足够的孔隙率和力学性能，以支持细胞粘附和增殖以及植入构建体后组织向内生长。降解研究结果表明，这些淀粉基支架易受酶促降解影响，这通过重量损失增加得以检测（在2周内，SPCL样品的重量损失达到20%）。随着降解时间的增加，SPCL和SPLA纤维的直径显著减小，孔隙率增加，因此在植入期间为细胞和组织向内生长提供了更多可用空间。这些结果与先前的细胞培养研究相结合，表明这些支架具有诱导细胞粘附和增殖的能力，清楚地证明了这些支架在组织工程策略中用于再生骨组织缺损的潜力。
