Investigation of process parameters of electrohydro-dynamic jetting for 3D printed PCL fibrous scaffolds with complex geometries

Abstract

Tissue engineering is a promising technology in the field of regenerative medicine, with the potential to create tissues de novo. Though there has been a good progress in this field so far, there still exists the challenge of providing a 3D micro-architecture to the artificial tissue construct, to mimic the native cell or tissue environment. 3D bioprinting is looked upon as a solution, with its capability of mimicking the native tissue architecture, layer by layer, with high precision and appreciable resolution. Electrohydrodynamic jetting (E-jetting) is one type of 3D bioprinting, where a high electric voltage is applied between the extruding nozzle and the substrate, to print highly controlled fibres. In this study, an E-jetting system developed in-house is used to 3D print fibrous scaffolds. Effect of various E-jetting parameters, namely the supply voltage, solution concentration, nozzle-to-substrate distance, stage (printing) speed and solution dispensing feed rate on the diameter of printed fibres is studied at the first stage. Optimized parameters are then used to print Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds of highly complex geometries, like semi-lunar and spiral geometries, with the aim of demonstrating the flexibility and capability of our system to fabricate complex geometry scaffolds, to biomimic the complex 3D micro-architecture of native tissue environment. The spiral geometry may help in better cell migration during cell culture and tissue maturation.