Biodegradable Microfluidic Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis work describes the integration of novel microfabrication techniques for vascular tissue engineering applications in the context of a novel biodegradable elastomer. The field of tissue engineering and organ regeneration has been borne out of the high demand for organ transplants. However, one of the critical limitations in regeneration of vital organs is the lack of an intrinsic blood supply. This work expands on the development of scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering applications by employing microfabrication techniques. Unlike previous efforts, this work focuses on fabricating single layer and three-dimensional scaffolds from poly(glycerol-sebacate) (PGS), a novel biodegradable elastomer with superior mechanical properties. The transport properties of oxygen and carbon dioxide in PGS were measured through a series of time-lag diffusion experiments. The results of these measurements were used to calculate a characteristic length scale for oxygen diffusion limits in solid PGS scaffolds. Single layer and three-dimensional microfluidic scaffolds were then produced using fabrication techniques specific for PGS. This work has resulted in the fabrication of solid PGS-based scaffolds with biomimetic fluid flow and capillary channels on the order of 10 microns in width. Fabrication of complex, three-dimensional microfluidic PGS scaffolds was also demonstrated by stacking and bonding multiple microfluidic layers.