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Innovative tissue engineering structures through advanced manufacturing technologies

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Abstract

A wide range of rapid prototyping (RP) techniques for the construction of three-dimensional (3-D) scaffolds for tissue engineering has been recently developed. In this study, we report and compare two methods for the fabrication of poly-(ε-caprolactone) and poly- (ε-caprolactone)–poly-(oxyethylene)–poly-(ε-caprolactone) copolymer scaffolds. The first technique is based on the use of a microsyringe and a computer-controlled three-axis micropositioner, which regulates motor speed and position. Polymer solutions are extruded through the needle of the microsyringe by the application of a constant pressure of 10–300 mm Hg, resulting in controlled polymer deposition of 5–600 μm lateral dimensions. The second method utilises the heating energy of a laser beam to sinter polymer microparticles according to computer-guided geometries. Materials may be fed either as dry powder or slurry of microparticles. Both powder granulometry and laser working parameters influence resolution (generally 300 μm×700 μm), accuracy of sintering and surface and bulk properties of the final structures. The two RP methods allow the fabrication of 3-D scaffolds with a controlled architecture, providing a powerful means to study cell response to an environment similar to that found in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, Italy

    Gianluca Ciardelli, Valeria Chiono, Niccoletta Barbani & Paolo Giusti

  2. C.N.R, Institute for Composite and Biomedical Materials, Italy

    Caterina Cristallini & Giovanni Vozzi

  3. Centro “E. Piaggio”, Italy

    Arti Ahluwalia, Giovanni Vozzi & Antonino Previti

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Giovanni Tantussi

Authors
  1. Gianluca Ciardelli
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  2. Valeria Chiono
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  3. Caterina Cristallini
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  4. Niccoletta Barbani
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  5. Arti Ahluwalia
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  6. Giovanni Vozzi
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  7. Antonino Previti
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  8. Giovanni Tantussi
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  9. Paolo Giusti
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Correspondence to Gianluca Ciardelli.

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Ciardelli, G., Chiono, V., Cristallini, C. et al. Innovative tissue engineering structures through advanced manufacturing technologies. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 15, 305–310 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSM.0000021092.03087.d4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSM.0000021092.03087.d4

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