3D artificial polymeric scaffolds for stem cell growth fabricated by femtosecond laser

Abstract

Femtosecond Laser Induced Polymerization is an attractive direct writing technique for rapid three-dimensional (3D) micro and nanofabrication in diverse applications. Recently, it has been successfully applied for 3D scaffold fabrication required in biomedicine applications. However, there are still a lot of investigations to be done before it can be used for practical applications in tissue engineering or regenerative medicine. In this work, experimental results on production of artificial polymeric scaffolds for stem cell growth are presented. Parameters (average laser power, sample scanning speed, and developing conditions) for microfabrication in biocompatible photopolymers AKRE (AKRE37) and ORMOSIL (SZ2080) are experimentally determined. 3D custom form and size artificial scaffolds were successfully microfabricated. Adult stem cell growth on them was investigated in order to test their biocompatibility. The results of myogenic stem cell culture expansion were compared to the control growth of the same cells on the scaffolds manufactured out of commonly used biocompatible photopolymers ORMOCER (Ormocore b59) and Poly-Ethylen Glycol Di-Acrylate (PEG-DA-258). Preliminary results show FLIP technique to have potential in fabrication of artificial 3D polymeric scaffolds for cell proliferation experiments. These are the first steps in transferring FLIP fabrication method from laboratory tests to flexible manufacturing of individual scaffolds out of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers.

Design, physical prototyping and initial characterisation of ‘lockyballs’

“…The cell nuclei stain blue and the cytoskeletal actin stains green. Cells adhere extensively to the niche internal lattice and show a roundish morphology: 20 mm lattice, according to Raimondi et al (2012;c) Fluorescence microscope images of adult rabbit myogenic stem cells in vitro (highlighted 4?,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stained nucleuses having size of 10 mm and invisible cell body) expanded in the 2D artificial scaffolds fabricated out of SZ2080, according to Malinauskas et al (2010). 297 Virtual and Physical Prototyping diameter are sufficient for cell invasion into scaffold (Raimondi et al 2012).…”

Organic dye doped microstructures for optically active functional devices fabricated via two-photon polymerization technique

“…Drying of the solvent results in accumulation of dopants at the edges where lines are attached to the glass substrate. Structures fabricated by LTPP out of biocompatible polymers are supposed to serve as scaffolds for stem cell growth in regenerative medicine [17]. Marking scaffold with fluorescent dyes helps to trace cell proliferation in it as the structure is highly fluorescent upon investigation [11].…”

Mesoscale 3D manufacturing: varying focusing conditions for efficient direct laser writing of polymers

“…25,26 Such constructs are very promising for stem cell based biomedicine. 27 Most importantly it enables creation and integration of arbitrary shaped templates on metallic, 28 reflective and opaque 29 as well as absorbing surfaces. 30 Doping of the polymer material opens new pathways for the implementation of their active optical functionalities.…”