3D printed silica-gelatin hybrid scaffolds of specific channel sizes promote collagen type II, Sox9 and Aggrecan production from chondrocytes

DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.111964

Authors: Maria Nelson (Imperial College London) , Siwei Li (Imperial College London) , Samuel J. Page (University of Warwick) , Xiaomeng Shi (Imperial College London) , Peter D. Lee (University of Manchester) , Molly M. Stevens (Imperial College London) , John V. Hanna (University of Warwick) , Julian R. Jones (Imperial College London)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials Science And Engineering: C

State: Published (Approved)
Published: February 2021
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 15444

Abstract: Inorganic/organic hybrids have co-networks of inorganic and organic components, with the aim of obtaining synergy of the properties of those components. Here, a silica-gelatin sol-gel hybrid “ink” was directly 3D printed to produce 3D grid-like scaffolds, using a coupling agent, 3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), to form covalent bonds between the silicate and gelatin co-networks. Scaffolds were printed with 1 mm strut separation, but the drying method affected the final architecture and properties. Freeze drying produced <40 μm struts and large ~700 μm channels. Critical point drying enabled strut consolidation and optimal mechanical properties, with ~160 μm struts and ~200 μm channels, which improved mechanical properties. This architecture was critical to cellular response: when chondrocytes were seeded on the scaffolds with 200 μm wide pore channels in vitro, collagen Type II matrix was preferentially produced (negligible amount of Type I or X were observed), indicative of hyaline-like cartilaginous matrix formation, but when pore channels were 700 μm wide, Type I collagen was prevalent. This was supported by Sox9 and Aggrecan expression. The scaffolds have potential for regeneration of articular cartilage regeneration, particularly in sports medicine cases.

Journal Keywords: 3D printing; hybrid; articular cartilage; scaffold

Diamond Keywords: Additive Manufacturing

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials


Instruments: I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging

Added On: 16/02/2021 09:25

Discipline Tags:

Biomaterials Health & Wellbeing Materials Science Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Imaging Tomography