Pre-Loading of Cells via Vapor Sublimation and the Deposition Polymerization Process with a 3D Porous Scaffold for Cell Cultures

TL;DR

A new method creates 3D porous scaffolds for cell cultures using vapor sublimation and polymerization, enabling high cell viability and compatibility for tissue regeneration.

Contribution

A novel fabrication method that preloads cells into 3D scaffolds using vapor sublimation and deposition polymerization, avoiding traditional limitations.

Findings

The method produces scaffolds with interconnected pores and high porosity, supporting cell migration and nutrient diffusion.

The scaffolds maintain structural integrity for at least 21 days and support multiple cell lineages like adipogenic, osteogenic, and neurogenic.

Anisotropic directional scaffolds were created, mimicking native tissue architecture and enhancing cell attachment.

Abstract

In this study, we fabricate a three-dimensional (3D)
porous poly-p-xylylene scaffold via a preloading
technique and tailor
it for cell culture. The fabrication process utilizes vapor sublimation
and deposition polymerization, which exploits an ice template for
sublimation and subsequent deposition of poly-p-xylylene
under lower pressure and room temperature conditions. During this
process, living cells are incorporated within a protective oil-in-water
emulsion system, which facilitates high cell viability, and this construction
forms a poly-p-xylylene scaffold with multiscale
pores in the scaffold architecture that can be maintained for a tested
time frame of 21 days in the current study. This reported fabrication
method addresses inherent limitations of traditional methods, such
as restricted biocompatibility, the need for modification procedures
to achieve adequate porosity, and postseeding/loading of cells. By
facilitating precise control over both micro- and nanostructures,
the approach simultaneously preloads and accommodates multiple cell
types and/or the necessary bioactive factors in the water solution
and becomes an ice template. Finally, a single vapor phase fabrication
step can lead to the construction of devised multifunctional scaffolds.
The resulting scaffolds exhibit high porosity, featuring interconnected
pores for cell migration and nutrient diffusion. Furthermore, controlled
nanoroughness and microporosity promote cell attachment and enhance
cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, which are critical
for tissue integration. Various types of cell cultures alongside diverse
lineages of differentiations, including adipogenic, osteogenic, and
neurogenic lineages, were examined in this study. Finally, the creation
of anisotropic directional scaffolds that mimic native tissue architecture
and promote cell attachment is particularly relevant for applications
such as dental tissue regeneration and vascularization. Overall, the
presented methodology represents a significant advancement in scaffold
fabrication technology with considerable potential for versatility
in regenerative medicine and complex tissue regeneration.

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