OBJECTIVE

To study the preparation and cytocompatibility of bone tissue engineering scaffolds by combining low temperature three dimensional (3D) printing and vacuum freeze-drying techniques.

METHODS

Collagen (COL) and silk fibroin (SF) were manufactured from fresh bovine tendon and silkworm silk. SolidWorks2014 was adopted to design bone tissue engineering scaffold models with the size of 9 mm x 9 mm x 3 mm and pore diameter of 500 μm. According to the behavior of composite materials that low temperature 3D printing equipment required, COL, SF, and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) at a ratio of 9 : 3 : 2 and low temperature 3D printing in combination with vacuum freeze-drying techniques were accepted to build COL/SF/nHA composite scaffolds. Gross observation and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were applied to observe the morphology and surface structures of composite scaffolds. Meanwhile, compression displacement, compression stress, and elasticity modulus were measured by mechanics machine to analyze mechanical properties of composite scaffolds. The growth and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells were evaluated using SEM, inverted microscope, and MTT assay after cultured for 1, 7, 14, and 21 days on the composite scaffolds. The RT-PCR and Western blot techniques were adopted to detect the gene and protein expressions of COL I, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OCN) in MC3T3-E1 cells after 21 days.

RESULTS

COL/SF/nHA composite scaffolds were successfully prepared by low temperature 3D printing technology and vacuum freeze-drying techniques; the SEM results showed that the bionic bone scaffolds were 3D polyporous structures with macropores and micropores. The mechanical performance showed that the elasticity modulus was (344.783 07 ± 40.728 55) kPa; compression displacement was (0.958 41 ± 0.000 84) mm; and compression stress was (0.062 15 ± 0.007 15) MPa. The results of inverted microscope, SEM, and MTT method showed that a large number of cells adhered to the surface with full extension and good cells growth inside the macropores, which demonstrated a satisfactory proliferation rate of the MC3T3-E1 cells on the composite scaffolds. The RT-PCR and Western blot electrophoresis revealed gene expressions and protein synthesis of COL I, ALP, and OCN in MC3T3-E1 cells.

CONCLUSION

Low temperature 3D printing in combination with vacuum freeze-drying techniques could realize multi-aperture coexisted bionic bone tissue engineering scaffolds and control the microstructures of composite scaffolds precisely that possess good cytocompatibility. It was expected to be a bone defect repair material, which lays a foundation for further research of bone defect.