Abstract
The selection of an appropriate scaffold represents one major key to success in tissue engineering. In cardiovascular applications, where a load-bearing structure is required, scaffolds need to demonstrate sufficient mechanical properties and importantly, reliable retention of these properties during the developmental phase of the tissue engineered construct. The effect of in vitro culture conditions, time and mechanical loading on the retention of mechanical properties of two scaffold types was investigated. First candidate tested was a poly-glycolic acid non-woven fiber mesh, coated with poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (PGA/P4HB), the standard scaffold used successfully in cardiovascular tissue engineering applications. As an alternative, an electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) scaffold was used. A 15-day dynamic loading protocol was applied to the scaffolds. Additionally, control scaffolds were incubated statically. All studies were performed in a simulated physiological environment (phosphate-buffered saline solution, T = 37 °C). PGA/P4HB scaffolds showed a dramatic decrease in mechanical properties as a function of incubation time and straining. Mechanical loading had a significant effect on PCL scaffold properties. Degradation as well as fiber fatigue caused by loading promote loss of mechanical properties in PGA/P4HB scaffolds. For PCL, fiber reorganization due to straining seems to be the main reason behind the brittle behavior that was pronounced in these scaffolds. It is suggested that those changes in scaffolds’ mechanical properties must be considered at the application of in vitro tissue engineering protocols and should ideally be taken over by tissue formation to maintain mechanically stable tissue constructs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. P. HOERSTRUP, R. SODIAN, J. S. SPERLING, J. P. VACANTI and J. E. MAYER Jr., Tissue Eng. 6 (2000) 75
R. SODIAN, T. LEMKE, M. LOEBE, S. P. HOERSTRUP, E. V. POTAPOV, H. HAUSMANN, R. MEYER and R. HETZER, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 58 (2002) 401
A. MOL, C. V. C. BOUTEN, G. ZUND, C. I. GUNTER, J. F. VISJAGER, M. I. TURINA, F. P. T. BAAIJENS and S. P. HOERSTRUP, Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 51 (2003) 78
G. C. ENGELMAYR Jr., D. K. HILDEBRAND, F. W. SUTHERLAND, J. E. MAYER Jr. and M. S. SACKS, Biomater. 24 (2003) 2523
D. W. HUTMACHER, Biomater. 21 (2000) 2529
J. A. MATTHEWS, G. E. WNEK, D. G. SIMPSON and G. L. BOWLIN, Biomacromol. 3 (2002) 232
X. ZONG, S. RAN, D. FANG, B. S. HSIAO and B. CHU, Polymer 44 (2003) 4959
W.-J. LI, C. T. LAURENCIN, E. J. CATERSON, R. S. TUAN and F. K. KO, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 60 (2002) 613
Y. K. LUU, K. KIM, B. S. HSIAO, B. CHU and M. HADJIARGYROU, J. Control. Rel. 89 (2003) 341
J. J. STANKUS, J. GUAN and W. R. WAGNER, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 70A (2004) 603
K. OHGO, C. ZHAO, M. KOBAYASHI and T. ASAKURA, Polymer 44 (2003) 841
D. E. THOMPSON, C. M. AGRAWAL and K. A. ATHANASIOU, Tissue Eng. 2 (1996) 61
D. W. HUTMACHER, T. SCHANTZ, I. ZEIN, K. W. NG, S. H. TEOH and K. C. TAN, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 55 (2001) 203
L. E. NIKLASON, J. GAO, W. M. ABBOTT, K. K. HIRSCHI, S. HOUSER, R. MARINI and R. LANGER, Science 284 (1999) 489
M. A. SLIVKA, N. C. LEATHERBURY, K. KIESWETTER and G. G. NIEDERAUER, in “ASTM STP 1396” (West Conshohocken, PA: American Society for Testing and Materials, 2000) p. 124
A. T. SHUM and A. F. MAK, Polym. Degrad. Stab. 81 (2003) 141
S. P. HOERSTRUP, R. SODIAN, S. DAEBRITZ, J. WANG, E. A. BACHA, D. P. MARTIN, A. M. MORAN, K. J. GULESERIAN, J. S. SPERLING, S. KAUSHAL, J. P. VACANTI, F. J. SCHOEN and J. E. MAYER Jr., Circulation 102 (2000) III44
S. P. HOERSTRUP, G. ZUND, R. SODIAN, A. M. SCHNELL, J. GRUNENFELDER and M. I. TURINA, Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. 20 (2001) 164
R. SODIAN, S. P. HOERSTRUP, J. S. SPERLING, D. P. MARTIN, S. DAEBRITZ, J. E. MAYER Jr. and J. P. VACANTI, ASAIO J. 46 (2000) 107
M. I. van LIESHOUT, C. M. VAZ, M. C. M. RUTTEN, G. W. M. PETERS and F. P. T. BAAIJENS, J. Biomater. Sci.: Polym. Ed. 17(1) (2006) 77
A. G. A. COOMBES, S. C. RIZZI, M. WILLIAMSON, J. E. BARRALET, S. DOWNES and W. A. WALLACE, Biomat. 25 (2004) 315
S. YANG, K. F. LEONG, Z. DU and C. K. CHUA, Tissue Eng. 7 (2001) 679
B. S. KIM and D. J. MOONEY, J. Biomech. Eng. 122 (2000) 210
B. S. KIM, J. NIKOLOVSKI, J. BONADIO and D. J. MOONEY, Nat. Biotechnol. 17 (1999) 979
V. CRESCENZI, G. MANZINI, G. CALZOLARI and C. BORRI, Eur. Polym. J. 8 (1972) 449
S. M. LI, H. GARREAU and M. VERT, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 1 (1990) 198
B. WUNDERLICH, in “Macromolecular Physics” (Academic Press, London, 1980) vol. 3
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our gratitude to Rob van den Berg for the development of the bioreactor, Rob Petterson for assisting with mechanical testing and the motor, Marc van Maris for the introduction to E-SEM, Matthijs de Geus & Madri Smit for helping with DSC and Martin Koens for his assistance at electrospinning. Leda Klouda is a scholarship recipient of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Athens, Greece, whom she is thanking herewith.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klouda, L., Vaz, C.M., Mol, A. et al. Effect of biomimetic conditions on mechanical and structural integrity of PGA/P4HB and electrospun PCL scaffolds. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 19, 1137–1144 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-007-0171-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-007-0171-9