Shell-core bi-layered scaffolds for engineering of vascularized osteon-like structures

Xuening Chen, Asli Ergun, Halil Gevgilili, Seher Ozkan, Dilhan M. Kalyon, Hongjun Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bottom-up assembly of osteon-like structures into large tissue constructs represents a promising and practical strategy toward the formation of hierarchical cortical bone. Here, a unique two-step approach, i.e., the combination of electrospinning and twin screw extrusion (TSE) techniques was used to fabricate a microfilament/nanofiber shell-core scaffold that could precisely control the spatial distribution of different types of cells to form vascularized osteon-like structures. The scaffold contained a helical outer shell consisting of porous microfilament coils of polycaprolactone (PCL) and biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) that wound around a hollow electrospun PCL nanofibrous tube (the core). The porous helical shell supported the formation of bone-like tissues, while the luminal surface of nanofibrous core enabled endothelialization to mimic the function of Haversian canal. Culture of mouse pre-osteoblasts (POBs, MC 3T3-E1) onto the coil shells revealed that coils with pitch sizes greater than 135μm, in the presence of BCP, favored the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of POBs. The luminal surface of PCL nanofibrous core supported the adhesion and spreading of mouse endothelial cells (ECs, MS-1) to form a continuous endothelial lining with the function similar to blood vessels. Taken together, the shell-core bi-layered scaffolds with porous, coil-like shell and nanofibrous tubular cores represent a new scaffolding technology base for the creation of osteon analogs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8203-8212
Number of pages10
JournalBiomaterials
Volume34
Issue number33
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013

Keywords

  • Cortical bone
  • Electrospinning
  • Osteon
  • Twin screw extrusion
  • Vascularization

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