Development of a novel 3D glass-ceramic scaffold for endometrial cell in vitro culture

Abstract

Glass-ceramic and biphasic calcium phosphate materials with 3D architectures to be used as scaffolds for endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were synthesized by freezing and lyophilising ceramic suspensions. The microstructures obtained by FESEM showed the presence of open and 3D interconnected porous structures, which are known to promote cell growth and proliferation. Immunohistochemical staining showed that ESCs spread out and ingressed into the Glass-ceramic scaffold. On average, 2952 cells were found per mm3 and the depth of cellular infiltration into the scaffold was 66.4 µm. Embryo development occurred on top of cell-cultured scaffold, which suggests that it is not embryotoxic. Taking all of this into account, we can state that the Glass-ceramic scaffold provides a promising tool to develop an in vitro endometrial 3D model.