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

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 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.

3D Printing for Bone-Cartilage Interface Regeneration

“…(A) Polycaprolactone (PCL)/alginate bi-layered scaffold. Reproduced with permission ( Yu et al, 2020 ). Copyright: © 2020 by the authors.…”

“…Nichols et al optimized a new bioreactor capable of optical monitoring within 3D structures ( Nichols et al, 2018 ). Yu et al (2020) designed and developed a polydimethylsiloxane coculture system for osteochondral tissue (PCSOT). The body of PCSOT consists of a PCL membrane divided into two separate chambers, allowing cells to be exposed to different culture media using different chondrogenic and osteogenic media, thereby, providing a suitable osteochondral differentiation environment that allows FCPC to differentiate into osteochondral tissue ( Yu et al, 2020 ).…”

Current Advances in 3D Bioprinting Technology and Its Applications for Tissue Engineering

“…Autologous epithelial cells and chondrocytes were individually encapsulated in 3% alginate. Specifically, the trachea-mimicking structures Fabrication process and histopathologic results of osteochondral scaffold [173]. (a) The fabrication process of bipartite scaffold using a 3D bioprinting system; (b) histological results at day 1 and 28.…”

“…They found that the composite structure permitted growth factor loaded MSC, which was successfully differentiated with both cartilage and bone layers through in vivo tests. Yu et al developed and characterized a heterogeneous scaffold using a multi-head 3D cell printing system [ 173 ]. The scaffold was achieved using PCL and alginate, allowing the embedment of a single type of progenitor cells that could be matured into two independent tissues simultaneously.…”

“… Fabrication process and histopathologic results of osteochondral scaffold [ 173 ]. ( a ) The fabrication process of bipartite scaffold using a 3D bioprinting system; ( b ) histological results at day 1 and 28.…”