0000000000021482
AUTHOR
F. Carfì Pavia
Polymeric scaffolds prepared via Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS): Tuning of structure and morphology
Scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering applications were prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) starting from a ternary solution PLLA/dioxane/water. The experimental protocol consisted of three consecutive steps, a first quench from the homogeneous solution to an appropriate demixing temperature (within the metastable region), a holding stage for a given residence time and a final quench from the demixing temperature to a low temperature (within the unstable region). A large variety of morphologies, in terms of average pore size and interconnection, were obtained upon modifying the demixing time and temperature, owing to the interplay of nucleation and growth processes dur…
Preparation of polymeric foams with a pore size gradient via Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS)
Abstract Foams with a pore size gradient are promising materials for tissue engineering applications where a complex architecture involving morphological variations in space must be mimicked, e.g. in bone tissue repair. In this paper, a technique to obtain a porous scaffold with a pore size gradient is presented. The preparation procedure is based on Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS), by imposing a different thermal history on the two sides of a polymeric solution. In this way, a gradient in thermal history is produced, which will generate a pore size monotonously varying along scaffold thickness. By controlling some parameters easy to manipulate, such as demixing temperature and/or…
PLLA biodegradable scaffolds for angiogenesis via Diffusion Induced Phase Separation (DIPS)
A critical obstacle in tissue engineering is the inability to maintain large masses of living cells upon transfer from the in vitro culture conditions into the host in vivo. Capillaries, and the vascular system, are required to supply essential nutrients, including oxygen, remove waste products and provide a biochemical communication “highway”. For this reason it is mandatory to manufacture an implantable structure where the process of vessel formation – the angiogenesis – can take place. In this work PLLA scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering were produced by dip-coating via Diffusion Induced Phase Separation (DIPS) technique. The scaffolds, with a vessel-like shape, were obtained by p…
A COMPOSITE PLLA SCAFFOLD FOR REGENERATION OF COMPLEX TISSUES
A composite biodegradable scaffold incorporating an integrated network of synthetic blood vessels was designed and prepared, in line with the requirements of a scaffold effectively supporting the regeneration of highly vascularized tissues. In other words, this composite scaffold should allow the regeneration of complex injured tissue (e.g. dermis) and, at the same time, favour the development of a vascular network on its inner, i.e. a 3D polymeric scaffolds embedding synthetic blood vessel-like structures for nutrient supply and metabolite removal. PLLA assures a high degree of biocompatibility and a low level of inflammation response upon implantation, while the embedded tubular vessel-li…
Calcium phosphate/polyvinyl acetate coatings on SS304 via galvanic co-deposition for orthopedic implant applications
Abstract In this work, the galvanic deposition method is used to deposit coatings of brushite/hydroxyapatite/polyvinyl acetate on 304 stainless steel. Coatings are obtained at different temperatures and with different sacrificial anodes, consisting of a mixture of brushite and hydroxyapatite. Samples are aged in a simulated body fluid (SBF), where a complete conversion of brushite into hydroxyapatite with a simultaneous change in morphology and wettability occurred. The corrosion tests show that, compared with bare 304, the coating shifts Ecorr to anodic values and reduces icorr Ecorr, and icorr has different values at different aging times due to chemical interactions at the solid/liquid i…
A poly-L-lactic acid/ collagen/glycosaminoglycan matrix for tissue engineering applications
Adhesion of tissue cells to biomaterials is a prerequisite of paramount importance for the effectiveness of a tissue engineering construct (cell and scaffolds). Functionalization of polymeric scaffolds with organic polymers, such as collagen or proteoglycans, is a promising approach in order to improve the cytocompatibility. As a matter of fact, organic polymers, isolated directly from the extracellular matrix, contain a multitude of surface ligand (fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin) and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid-containing peptides that promote cell adhesion. In tissue engineering, the combination of organic and synthetic polymers gives rise to scaffolds characterized simultaneously …
3D cultures of rat astrocytes and brain capillary endothelial cells on Poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds
Tissue engineering is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims at reproducing in vitro and/or in vivo tissues with morphological and functional features similar to the biological tissue of the human body. In this communication we report setting of three-dimensional structures able to mimic the extracellular matrix of the nervous system: we prepared Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) porous scaffolds via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS), and investigated the parameters that influence porosity, average pore size and degree of interconnection, i.e. polymer concentration, temperature and time of process. Astrocytes and brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) were cultured on these three-…
Polymeric scaffolds prepared via thermally induced phase separation: Tuning of structure and morphology
Scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering applications like dermal reconstruction were prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) starting from a ternary solution PLLA/dioxane/water. The experimental protocol consisted of three consecutive steps, a first quench from the homogeneous solution to an appropriate demixing temperature (within the metastable region), a holding stage for a given residence time, and a final quench from the demixing temperature to a low temperature (within the unstable region). A large variety of morphologies, in terms of average pore size and interconnection, were obtained upon modifying the demixing time and temperature, owing to the interplay of nucleat…
A Biodegradable, Bio-Based Polymer for the Production of Tools for Aquaculture: Processing, Properties and Biodegradation in Sea Water
Bio-based, biodegradable polymers can dramatically reduce the carbon dioxide released into the environment by substituting fossil-derived polymers in some applications. In this work, prototypes of trays for aquaculture applications were produced via injection molding by using a biodegradable polymer, Mater-Bi®. A characterization carried out via calorimetric, rheological and mechanical tests revealed that the polymer employed shows properties suitable for the production of tools to be used in aquaculture applications. Moreover, the samples were subjected to a biodegradation test in conditions that simulate the marine environment. The as-treated samples were characterized from gravimetrical,…
PLLA/PLA scaffolds prepared via Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS): tuning of properties and biodegradability
Foams for tissue engineering applications were prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) and blends of PLLA with PLA in different proportions were used (100/0, 90/10, 75/25, 50/50, 0/100 PLLA/PLA wt/wt) starting from ternary systems where dioxane was the solvent and water the non-solvent. Morphology was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (average pore size and interconnection) and the void fraction was measured by means of Hg porosimetry. Foams apparent density was also evaluated (porosity ranges from 87% to 92%). Biodegradability was estimated in a body mimicking fluid. Results show that structure and morphology (in terms of average pore size …
Tailoring PLLA scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: Morphologies for 2D and 3D cell cultures
PLLA scaffold suitable for dermis regeneration were realized by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) starting from a ternary solution PLLA/dioxane/water. The reconstruction of a complex tissues as the dermis implies the use of different cellular types (coculture), with different growth behaviour (2D vs. 3D). The scaffolds present an homogeneous porous surface to allow the keratinocytes 2D growth and a porous internal structure for the fibroblasts 3D growth. Our results show that the porosity of the surface can be tuned by changing the chemical nature of the sample holder (aluminium, teflon, polypropylene). A large variety of morphologies, in terms of average pore size and interconnecti…
Polymeric scaffolds based on blends of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) with poly-d-l- lactic acid (PLA) prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS): demixing conditions and morphology
Porous scaffolds based on blends of high crystalline Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) with low crystalline poly-D-L-lactic acid (PLA) were prepared via Ther- mally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS), with the aim of exploring the possibility to control the degradation behaviour of the PLA-based scaffold, simultaneously pre- serving the morphological characteristics required for tissue engineering applica- tions. Porous foams with different PLLA/PLA weight ratios (from 95/5 to 60/40) were produced and characterised in terms of pore size, porosity, and thermal properties. The scaffolds present an open porosity, with average pore sizes ranging from 30 to 70 lm. Results showed that, when dealing with a P…
Demixing time and temperature influence on porosity and interconnection of PLLA scaffolds prepared via TIPS
Scaffolds suitable for tissue engineering applications were prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) starting from a ternary solution PLLA/ dioxane/water. The experimental protocol consisted of three consecutive steps, a first quench from the homogeneous solution to an appropriate demixing temperature (within the binodal region), a liquid-liquid demixing stage for a given time and a final quench from the demixing temperature to a low temperature (within the spinodal region). A large variety of morphologies, in terms of average pore size and interconnection were obtained upon modifying the demixing time and temperature, owing to the interplay of nucleation and growth processes d…
Tubular scaffold for vascular tissue engineering application
A critical obstacle in tissue engineering is the inability to maintain large masses of living cells upon transfer from the in vitro culture conditions into the host in vivo. Capillaries, and the vascular system, are required to supply essential nutrients, including oxygen, remove waste products and provide a biochemical communication “highway”. Another goal in this research field is the possibility to tune the biodegradability of the scaffold. After implantation, the scaffold has to be gradually replaced by cells and extra cellular matrix and it is crucial that this replacement takes place with an appropriate dynamics. A premature degradation, in fact, could lead to a collapse of the struct…
Tuning of biodegradation rate of PLLA scaffolds via blending with PLA
Blends of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) with Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA) in different proportions (95/5, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40) were utilized in order to realize biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds for soft tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds were produced via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) starting from ternary systems where dioxane was the solvent and water the non-solvent. Morphology was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (average pore size and interconnection). Foams’ apparent density was also evaluated (porosity ranges from 87% to 92%). Moreover an in vitro biodegradation test of scaffolds was set-up in order to verify the rate of degradation of the va…
Poly lactic acid based scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering
A critical obstacle encountered by tissue engineering is the inability to maintain large masses of living cells upon transfer from the in vitro culture conditions to host in vivo. Capillaries, and the vascular system, are required to supply essential nutrients, including oxygen, remove waste products and provide a biochemical communication "highway". The successful use of tissue-engineered constructs is currently limited to thin or avascular tissues, such as skin or cartilage, for which post-implantation neovascularisation from the host is sufficient to meet the demand for oxygen and nutrients. To succeed in the application of tissue engineering for bigger tissues, such as bone or muscle, t…
Composite Coatings of Chitosan and Silver Nanoparticles Obtained by Galvanic Deposition for Orthopedic Implants
In this work, composite coatings of chitosan and silver nanoparticles were presented as an antibacterial coating for orthopedic implants. Coatings were deposited on AISI 304L using the galvanic deposition method. In galvanic deposition, the difference of the electrochemical redox potential between two metals (the substrate and a sacrificial anode) has the pivotal role in the process. In the coupling of these two metals a spontaneous redox reaction occurs and thus no external power supply is necessary. Using this process, a uniform deposition on the exposed area and a good adherence of the composite coating on the metallic substrate were achieved. Physical-chemical characterizations were car…