Fabrication of 3D-printed quaternary scaffolds containing polymeric matrix plus alginate nanoparticles and MWCNTs for cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

AbstractOver the years, articular cartilage damage has impacted living standards world wide. Since each of the traditional therapeutic approaches has limitations, tissue engineering-based approaches have been recruited to provide a feasible solution. This study aimed to develop a novel nanocomposite 3D printed scaffold via a polymeric matrix accompanied with alginate nanoparticles and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to investigate its potential appropriateness for cartilage tissue engineering application. In this way, 3D printed constructs was developed by an extrusion-based printing method using the innovative nanocomposite inks consisting of PCL (polycaprolactone, P 35% w/v) and PLGA (poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid, P 15% w/v) incorporated with alginate nanoparticles (40 and 45% w/v), as a filler, and modified with or without MWCNTs (0.05 and 0.1% w/v), as a composite reinforcement. Next, the characterization of scaffold features was investigated. Results revealed that 3D printed scaffold containing PP/alginate45% with MWCNT0.05 (PPA45M0.05) had significant improvements in porosity (74.29%±7.33), water uptake, absorbance, cell attachment, hydrophilicity (64.15 ± 1.87), the compression modulus(0.2174MPa), and the degradation rate. In addition, the interaction within the whole constituents was validated by the spectra of ATR-FTIR. Due to the proper biodegradability, biocompatibility, and mechanical aspects, the PPA45M0.05 scaffolds would be a potential construct for cartilage tissue engineering.