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Engineering 3D degradable pliable scaffolds for adipose tissue regeneration

Advancing cell-material interactions by understanding the influence from thermal, chemical, mechanical properties and scaffold design

Time: Fri 2021-06-11 14.00

Location: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/61588049521, Stockholm (English)

Subject area: Fibre and Polymer Science

Doctoral student: Shubham Jain , Polymerteknologi

Opponent: Professor Lauren Flynn, The University of Western Ontario, ON, Canada

Supervisor: Professor Anna Finne-Wistrand, Polymerteknologi; Professor Kamal Mustafa, University of Bergen, Norway; Professor Mikael Hedenqvist, Polymera material

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Abstract

In soft tissue defects that arise due to trauma, tumor resections and complex burns, a significant loss in adipose tissue remains a considerable challenge due to the insufficient regenerative capacity of the tissue. This thesis focuses on assessing cell-material interactions between degradable 3D polymer scaffolds with different designs and adipose tissue-derived stem cells. This knowledge can be used to engineer 3D scaffolds with adequate physio-chemical and mechanical properties along with an appropriate design that augments adipose tissue regeneration.

Salt-leaching 3D scaffolds were fabricated from various medical-grade polyesters, and cellular behavior was evaluated by correlating the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The results showed that the glass transition temperature modulated the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, affecting stem cell proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. The same sets of polymers were further used in melt extrusion-based 3D printer and printability was established for the fabrication of customized 3D scaffolds. Based on printability and cell-scaffolds interaction results, poly (L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) was used to print 3D scaffolds in different soft and pliable designs that promoted adipogenic differentiation. To fabricate even softer, and more hydrophilic 3D scaffolds, poly (ɛ-caprolactone-co-p-dioxanone) and a unique scaffold design were utilized within the research group. The copolymer 3D scaffolds were further combined with knitted mesh and electrospun nanofibers to develop scaffolds with multilayer architecture, modular scaffolds. The in vitro results asserted that the modular scaffold enhanced cell-material interactions by almost five times of those observed for the scaffold alone. Therefore, it can be concluded that softness and pliability are crucial and an appropriate scaffold design with adequate mechanical support is required for enhancing cell-material interaction. The in vitro results asserted that the modular scaffold enhanced cell-material interactions by almost five times of those observed for the scaffold alone. Therefore, it can be concluded that softness and pliability are crucial and an appropriate scaffold design with adequate mechanical support is required for enhancing cell-material interaction. The in vitro results asserted that the modular scaffold enhanced cell-material interactions by almost five times of those observed for the scaffold alone. Therefore, it can be concluded that softness and pliability are crucial and an appropriate scaffold design with adequate mechanical support is required for enhancing cell-material interaction.

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