3D Printing of Polycaprolactone Scaffolds with Heterogenous Pore Size for Living Tissue Regeneration

Pore size of scaffolds plays a significant role in tissue regeneration both in vivo and in vitro. Extrusion based 3D printing methods allow the manufacture of scaffolds with unique pore architecture. As far as homogenous pores are concerned, small ones are required for increased mechanical strength, but they have to be large enough for efficient regeneration. This study aims to preliminarily investigate the impact of heterogeneous pore distribution in the scaffold on its mechanical and biological behavior compared to homogenous pores. Scaffolds with 0°/90° architecture, comprising heterogeneous and homogeneous 300–500 μm pore distribution were 3D printed and then tested in tension and compression. Thereafter, their seeding efficiency was evaluated using a 3D culture of HepG2 cell line. Results confirmed that presence of two different pore sizes in the scaffold results in an advantageous combination of mechanical properties and seeding efficiency compared to homogenous size pores.