Fabrication of aerogel scaffolds with adjustable macro/micro-pore structure through 3D printing and sacrificial template method for tissue engineering

Abstract

Aerogel is a kind of promising biomaterial to prepare scaffolds used in tissue engineering due to the characteristics of high water uptake, interconnected porous structure, and excellent permeability. However, the process to adjust the macro/micro-pore structure which affect nutrient diffusion and cell adhesion of the aerogel scaffolds is still challenging. In this study, combining 3D printing with sacrificial template method aiming to fabricate aerogel scaffolds with adjustable macro/micro-pore structure for tissue engineering was explored. A mixture of poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), Pluronic F127, and Lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) was used as aerogel scaffold materials. The rheological results indicated that PEGDA-Pluronic F127 hydrogel precursors possessed shear thinning and shear recovery behaviors and were suitable for 3D printing. After removing the sacrificial material of Pluronic F127, the aerogel scaffolds displayed larger micro-pore structure compared to no removing group and still maintained sufficient mechanical strength. Furthermore, the L929 fibroblast cell showed high cell viability and well proliferation performance after culturing 7 days on aerogel scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing. All these results suggest that the aerogel scaffolds with adjustable macro/micro-pore structure exhibit good mechanical and biological properties, which are expected to be used in tissue engineering.