Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Brougham, CM;Levingstone, TJ;Shen, NA;Cooney, GM;Jockenhoevel, S;Flanagan, TC;O'Brien, FJ
2017
November
Advanced healthcare materials
Freeze-Drying as a Novel Biofabrication Method for Achieving a Controlled Microarchitecture within Large, Complex Natural Biomaterial Scaffolds
Published
28 ()
Optional Fields
COLLAGEN-GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN SCAFFOLDS GAG SCAFFOLDS MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES ACTIVATED SCAFFOLD CROSS-LINKING CELL-ACTIVITY PORE-SIZE TISSUE PHENOTYPE MIGRATION
6
The biofabrication of large natural biomaterial scaffolds into complex 3D shapes which have a controlled microarchitecture remains a major challenge. Freeze-drying (or lyophilization) is a technique used to generate scaffolds in planar 3D geometries. Here we report the development of a new biofabrication process to form a collagen-based scaffold into a large, complex geometry which has a large height to width ratio, and a controlled porous microarchitecture. This biofabrication process is validated through the successful development of a heart valve shaped scaffold, fabricated from a collagen-glycosaminoglycan co-polymer. Notably, despite the significant challenges in using freeze-drying to create such a structure, the resultant scaffold has a uniform, homogenous pore architecture throughout. This is achieved through optimization of the freeze-drying mold and the freezing parameters. We believe this to be the first demonstration of using freeze-drying to create a large, complex scaffold geometry with a controlled, porous architecture for natural biomaterials. This study validates the potential of using freeze-drying for development of organ-specific scaffold geometries for tissue engineering applications, which up until now might not have been considered feasible.
HOBOKEN
2192-2640
10.1002/adhm.201700598
Grant Details