• Macromolecular Research
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.267-276
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• 2001

In order to endow with new bioactive functionality from demineralized bone particle (DBP) as natural source to poly(L-lactide) (PLA) synthetic biodegradable polymer, porous DBP/PLA as natural/synthetic composite scaffolds were prepared and compared by means of the emulsion freeze drying and solvent casting/salt leaching methods for the possibility of the application of tissue engineered bone and cartilage. For the emulsion freeze drying method, it was observed that the pore size decreased in the order of 79$\mu\textrm{m}$ (PLA control) > 47$\mu\textrm{m}$ (20% of DBP) > 23 $\mu\textrm{m}$ (40% of DBP) > 15$\mu\textrm{m}$ (80% of DBP). Porosities as well as specific pore areas decreased with increasing the amount of DBR. It can be explained that DBP acts like emulsifier resulting in stabilizing water droplet in emulsion. For the solvent casting/salt leaching method, a uniform distribution of well interconnected pores from the surface to core region were observed the pore size of 80 ∼70 $\mu\textrm{m}$ independent with DBP amount. Porosities as well as specific pore areas also were almost same. For pore size distribution by the mercury intrusion porosimeter analysis between the two methods, the pore size distribution of the emulsion freeze drying method was broader than that of the solvent casting/salt leaching method due to the mechanism of emulsion formation. Scaffolds of PLA alone, DBP/PLA of 40 and 80%, and DBP powder were implanted on the back of athymic nude mouse to observe the effect of DBP on the induction of cells proliferation by hematoxylin and eosin staining for 8 weeks. It was observed that the effect of DBP/PLA scaffolds on bone induction are stronger than PLA scaffolds, even though the bone induction effect of DBP/PLA scaffold might be lowered than only DBP powder, that is to say, in the order of DBP only > DBP/PLA scaffolds of 40 and 80% DBP > PLA scaffolds only for osteoinduction activity. In conclusion, it seems that DBP plays an important role for bone induction in DBP/PLA scaffolds for the application of tissue engineering area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.83-85
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• 1999

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.707-714
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• 2004

How to improve the cell culture method on scaffolds is important in the tissue engineering fileld. In this study, we optimized seeding and culture methods to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) on biodegradable polymer scaffold. The primary culture of VSMCs obtained from canine external jugular vein was accomplished by applying the explant-derived method. The primary cultured VSMCs were seeded into scaffolds and then cultured by using various different methods; static or dynamic seeding, static or dynamic culture. The difference in proliferative response of VSMCs was analyzed with an alamar blue assay. Cell-polymer construct was examined by histochemical method and scanning electron microscopy. Mesh type scaffold ($10 \times 10 \times0.4 mm$) was made of polyglycolic acid (PGA) suture thread. The PGA mesh type scaffold was 45% in porosity, and 0.03 g in weight. The primary cultured VSMCs were confirmed with immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal anti-$\alpha$-smooth muscle actin. The density and distribution of proliferated VSMCs within the scaffold and cellular adherence on the surface of the scaffold showed better results in the static seeding condition than in the dynamic condition. Under the same condition of seeding method as the static condition, the dynamic culture condition showed enhanced proliferation rates of the VSMCs when compared to the static culture condition. In conclusion, to improve the VSMCs proliferation in vitro, static seeding is better than the dynamic condition. In the culture condition, however, culture under the dynamic status is better than the static condition. This was a pilot study to manufacture artificial vascular vessel by tissue engineering.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2014

In tissue engineering, a scaffold is a three-dimensional(3D) structure that serves as a template for regeneration the functions of damaged tissues or organs. Among materials for scaffolds, polycaprolactone(PCL) and ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate(${\beta}$-TCP) are biodegradable and biocompatible. In this study, we fabricated 3D PCL, blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %), and pure ${\beta}$-TCP scaffolds by a multi-head scaffold fabrication system. Scaffolds with a pore size of $600{\pm}20{\mu}m$ was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of 3D PCL, blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %) and pure ${\beta}$-TCP scaffolds were analyzed by evaluating their mechanical characteristics. In addition, in an in-vitro study using osteoblast-like saos-2 cells, we confirmed the effects of 3D scaffolds on cellular behaviors such as cell adhesion and proliferation. In summary, the 3D blended PCL (60 wt %)/${\beta}$-TCP (40 wt %) scaffold was found to be suitable for human cancellous bone in terms of its the compressive strength, biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity. Thus, blending PCL and ${\beta}$-TCP could be a promising approach for fabricating 3D scaffolds for effective bone regeneration.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.815-819
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• 2014

Scaffolds of tissue engineering should be biocompatible and biodegradable for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. In the various scaffold fabrication, 3D printing technique can make the three dimensional scaffold with interconnected pores for cell ingrowth. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is biodegradable polyester with a low melting temperature and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this study, PCL scaffold was fabricated by 3D bioprinting system and surface modification of PCL scaffold was controlled by NaOH treatment. Morphological change and wetability of NaOH-treated scaffold were observed by SEM and contact angle measurement system. The remnant of PCL treated with NaOH was measured by ATR-FTIR. In vitro study of scaffolds was evaluated with WST-1 and ALP activity assay. NaOH treatment of PCL scaffolds increased surface roughness, hydrophilicity, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. These results indicate that NaOH-treated PCL scaffold made by 3D bioprinting has tissue engineered potential for the development of biocompatible material.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.259-264
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• 2005

Transplantation of cultured chondrocytes can regenerate cartilage tissues in cartilage defects in humans. However, this method requires a long culture period to expand chondrocytes to a large number of cells for transplantation. In addition, chondrocytes may dedifferentiate during long-term culture. These problems can potentially be overcome by the use of undifferentiated or partially developed cartilage precursor cells derived from neonatal cartilage, which, unlike chondrocytes from adult cartilage, have the capacity for rapid in vitro cell expansion and may retain their differentiated phenotype during long-term culture. The purpose of this study was to compare the cell growth rate and phenotypic modulation during in vitro culture between adult chondrocytes and neonatal chondrocytes, and to demonstrate the feasibility of regenerating cartilage tissues in vivo by transplantation of neonatal chondrocytes expanded in vitro and seeded onto polymer scaffolds. When cultured in vitro, chondrocytes isolated from neonatal (immediately postpartum, 2 h of age) rats exhibited much higher growth rate than chondrocytes isolated from adult rats. After 5 days of culture, more neonatal chondrocytes were in the differentiated state than adult chondrocytes. Cultured neonatal chondrocytes were seeded onto biodegradable polymer scaffolds and transplanted into athymic mice's subcutaneous sites. Four weeks after implantation, neonatal chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds formed white cartilaginous tissues. Histological analysis of the implants with hematoxylin and eosin showed mature and well-formed cartilage. Alcian blue/ safranin-O staining and Masson's trichrome staining indicated the presence of highly sulfated glycosarninoglycans and collagen, respectively, both of which are the major extracellular matrices of cartilage. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the collagen was mainly type II, the major collagen type in cartilage. These results showed that neonatal chondrocytes have potential to be a cell source for cartilage tissue engineering.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2014

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic biodegradable polymer with excellent mechanical properties. $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) has a hydrophilic, high density and excellent biocompatibility. In this work, we produced three-dimensional porous scaffolds with PCL and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles using a salt-leaching method. Physical properties of the scaffolds were analyzed by FE-SEM, FTIR, TGA and compressive strength. Interestingly, the addition of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles decreased the water absorption and swelling ratio of the porous scaffolds. However, the compressive strength was increased by $TiO_2$. CCK-8 assay, which is generally used for the analysis of cell growth, shows that $TiO_2$ nanoparticles have no cytotoxicity. Taken together, we suggest that the PLC/$TiO_2$-scaffold can be used for biomedical applications.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.76-82
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• 2003

Drug releasing porous poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL)-chitosan matrices were fabricated for bone regenerative therapy. Porous matrices made of biodegradable polymers have been playing a crucial role as bone substitutes and as tissue-engineered scaffolds in bone regenerative therapy. The matrices provided mechanical support for the developing tissue and enhanced tissue formation by releasing active agent in controlled manner. Chitosan was employed to enhance hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of the PCL matrices. PDGF-BB was incorporated into PCL-chitosan matrices to induce enhanced bone regeneration efficacy. PCL-chitosan matrices retained a porous structure with a 100-200 $\mu$m pore diameter that was suitable for cellular migration and osteoid ingrowth. $NaHCO_3$ as a porogen was incorporated 5% ratio to polymer weight to form highly porous scaffolds. PDGF-BB was released from PCL-chitosan matrices maintaining therapeutic concentration for 4 week. High osteoblasts attachment level and proliferation was observed from PCL-chitosan matrices. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that cultured osteoblasts showed round form and spread pseudopods after 1 day and showed broad cytoplasmic extension after 14 days. PCL-chitosan matrices promoted bone regeneration and PDGF-BB loaded matrices obtained enhanced bone formation in rat calvarial defect. These results suggested that the PDGF-BB releasing PCL-chitosan porous matrices may be potentially used as tissue engineering scaffolds or bone substitutes with high bone regenerative efficacy.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1025-1031
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• 2009

Several kinds of biodegradable hydrogels were prepared via in situ photopolymerization of Pluronic F127/poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) macromer and acrylic acid (AA) comonomer in aqueous medium. The swelling kinetics measurements showed that the resultant hydrogels exhibited both thermo- and pH-sensitive behaviors, and that this stimuli-responsiveness underwent a fast reversible process. With increasing pH of the local buffer solutions, the pH sensitivity of the hydrogels was increased, while the temperature sensitivity was decreased. In vitro hydrolytic degradation in the buffer solution (pH 7.4, $37^{\circ}C$), the degradation rate of the hydrogels was greatly improved due to the introduction of the AA comonomer. The in vitro release profiles of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in-situ embedded into the hydrogels were also investigated: the release mechanism of BSA based on the Peppas equation was followed Case II diffusion. Such biodegradable dual-sensitive hydrogel materials may have more advantages as a potentially interesting platform for smart drug delivery carriers and tissue engineering scaffolds.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.307-309
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• 2003

To develop a new treatment for end stage renal disease, we examined the possibility of regenerating renal tissues by implanting renal cells on biodegradable polymer scaffolds. Histological examination of the implanted tissues revealed formation of renal-like structures including glomerulus and renal tubule.