3D-Printed Collagen and Chondroitin Sulfate Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration Applications
摘要
Tissue engineering promotes tissue recovery, replacement or regeneration by designing biomimetic-inspired materials to recreate the natural environment and enhance cell and tissue growth. This project aimed to fabricate collagen (COL) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) scaffolds using 3D printing, evaluate their printing fidelity, and characterize them using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and solubility tests. In the present work COL and CS ink was developed and used to print the scaffolds, which were then divided into three groups: non-cross-linked (NC) and chemically cross-linked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) at 2.5% (C1) and 5% (C2) concentrations. Scaffold fidelity was assessed by comparing their dimensions with the computer predefined model. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of CS in the scaffolds, and solubility tests demonstrated that BDDE crosslinking significantly enhanced scaffold resistance to solubility.