Abstract
The purpose of this research was to produce multi-dimensional scaffolds containing biocompatible particles and fibres. To achieve this, two techniques were combined and used: T-Junction microfluidics and electrohydrodynamic (EHD) processing. The former was used to form layers of monodispersed bovine serum albumin (BSA) bubbles, which upon drying formed porous scaffolds. By altering the T-Junction processing parameters, bubbles with different diameters were produced and hence the scaffold porosity could be controlled. EHD processing was used to spray or spin poly(lactic-co-glycolic) (PLGA), polymethysilsesquioxane (PMSQ) and collagen particles/fibres onto the scaffolds during their production and after drying. As a result, multifunctional BSA scaffolds with controlled porosity containing PLGA, PMSQ and collagen particles/fibres were obtained. Product morphology was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. These products have potential applications in many advanced biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields e.g. bone regeneration, drug delivery, cosmetic cream lathers, facial scrubbing creams etc.
Highlights
In this study we present a novel method that combines microfluidics with EHD processing to produce porous bovine serum albumin (BSA) scaffolds from microbubble templates with functional particles and/or fibres incorporated into the scaffolds’ structure
After the bubbles were produced they were monitored for their stability
BSA protein scaffolds with controlled porosity varying from 81 ± 2 μm to 543 ± 33 μm were produced from microbubbles generated with the T-Junction technique by adjusting the operating parameters and solution properties
Summary
Many techniques have been developed for the preparation of these porous matrices, including particle leaching [9], freeze drying [10], phase separation [11], electrospraying [12], and electrospinning [13] and recently bioprinting [14] Scaffolds produced by these methods have pores with a wide size and shape distribution leading to insufficient transport of nutrition, migration and attachment of cells. In order to address this problem many methods have been suggested such as coating the scaffold with proteins or soaking it in various growth factors via spontaneous adsorption or covalent linking [18] While these additional treatment methods assist with cell attachment and growth in polymeric matrices, they may alter the morphological and physical properties of the scaffolds [19]
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