Abstract
Tissue engineering approaches have been increasingly considered for the repair of non-union fractions, craniofacial reconstruction or large bone defect replacements. The design of complex biomaterials and successful engineering of 3-dimensional tissue constructs is of paramount importance to meet this clinical need. Conductive scaffolds, based on conjugated polymers, present interesting candidates to address the piezoelectric properties of bone tissue and to induce enhanced osteogenesis upon implantation. However, conductive scaffolds have not been investigated in vitro in great measure. To this end, we have developed a highly porous, electrically conductive scaffold based on PEDOT:PSS, and provide evidence that this purely synthetic material is a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.
Highlights
MethodsIce templating Scaffolds were prepared from a PEDOT:PSS dispersion
Scaffold morphology Highly porous scaffolds were produced by freeze casting a PEDOT:PSS dispersion (Fig. 1)
PEDOT:PSS dispersions were frozen at a rate of À1 °CÁminÀ1 when placed at -80 °C, whereas a slightly slower cooling rate was expected when placed at À26 °C
Summary
Ice templating Scaffolds were prepared from a PEDOT:PSS dispersion The dispersion was filled into 2 mL cryogenic vials (VWR, Radnor, PA, USA), placed in a coolcell box (VWR, Radnor, PA, USA) and frozen in a À26 °C or À80 °C freezer overnight. The coolcell box ensures a freezing rate of À1 °CÁminÀ1 when placed at -80 °C, whereas a slower freezing rate is expected when placed at À26 °C due to the smaller temperature difference (DT). All tubes were placed at À80 °C overnight prior to freeze drying. Scaffolds were annealed at 140 °C for 2 h. PEDOT:PSS samples were cut into disks of 6 mm diameter and 1 to 2 mm thickness
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