3D Printed Polycaprolactone Carbon Nanotube Composite Scaffolds for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds with the use of novel 3D printing has gained lot of attention, however systematic investigation of biomaterials for 3D printing have not been widely explored. In this report, well-defined structures of polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL- carbon nanotube (PCL-CNT) composite scaffolds have been designed and fabricated using a 3D printer. Conditions for 3D printing has been optimized while the effects of varying CNT percentages with PCL matrix on the thermal, mechanical and biological properties of the printed scaffolds are studied. Raman spectroscopy is used to characterise the functionalized CNTs and its interactions with PCL matrix. Mechanical properties of the composites are characterised using nanoindentation. Maximum peak load, elastic modulus and hardness increases with increasing CNT content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies reveal the thermal and crystalline behaviour of PCL and its CNT composites. Biodegradation studies are performed in Pseudomonas Lipase enzymatic media, showing its specificity and effect on degradation rate. Cell imaging and viability studies of H9c2 cells from rat origin on the scaffolds are performed using fluorescence imaging and MTT assay, respectively. PCL and its CNT composites are able to show cell proliferation and have the potential to be used in cardiac tissue engineering.

Evaluation of 3D-Printed Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Coated with Freeze-Dried Platelet-Rich Plasma for Bone Regeneration

“…In this study, 3D-printed PCL scaffolds were used because the use of 3D printing technology allows for custom-designed scaffolds with controlled microstructures and interconnected porous structures [ 44 , 45 ]. With the rapid development of tissue engineering, 3D-printed scaffolds have seen widespread use in bone tissue engineering [ 46 ], cartilage tissue engineering [ 3 ], cardiac tissue engineering [ 47 ], and so on. In addition, PCL is one of the most commonly used thermoplastic polymers for 3D printing due to its prior FDA approval, biocompatibility, and biodegradability [ 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Self‐Healing Polycaprolactone Networks through Thermo‐Induced Reversible Disulfide Bond Formation

“…Among various self‐healing techniques, reversible bonds are more attractive . Polycaprolactone (PCL), as a kind of U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA‐approved biodegradable polymer, has been widely applied in tissue engineering, such as artificial skin . Self‐repairing is crucial in the applications of the recovery of materials from inchoate damages .…”

Electroactive 3D Printed Scaffolds Based on Percolated Composites of Polycaprolactone with Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide for Antibacterial and Tissue Engineering Applications

“…From these pictures, it is concluded that the printability and scaffolds characteristics were not affected by the presence of the nanofiller. In the polymer composite, the formation of chemical bonds between the TrGO and the PCL was not observed, and the overlapping and diminishing bands of the PCL could indicate that there was either electrostatic interactions or physical adsorption between the polymer and conductive particles [60]. Figure 4a shows representative photographs of the scaffolds as recorded by the 3D printer camera after finishing each layer.…”