Fabrication and characterization of 3D-bioprinted PVA/dECM scaffolds for biomedical applications

• Main Authors: Go, Francesca Mae P., Singco, Yvonne L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Tissue scaffolds; Tissue engineering; Chemical Engineering; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_chemeng/33; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_chemeng/article/1031/viewcontent/dECM_Scaffo.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Fabrication of PVA/dECM scaffolds were made to address the lack of bioactive components in existing pure PVA scaffolds. This was done through extrusion bioprinting or 3D printing with the aim to fit biomedical applications. Moreover, the effect of incorporating dECM to the PVA was analyzed in terms of viscosity, surface functional groups, mechanical properties, and swelling capacity. Results from the conducted tests were then correlated to established values in literature to determine its potential biomedical applications. dECM was obtained through an existing decellularization protocol and combined into 15:0, 30:1, 40:3, and 70:9 proportions of PVA/dECM. Each proportion was analyzed under a viscometer to test its printability prior to conducting FTIR, mechanical, and swelling tests. All PVA/dECM proportions were determined to be rheopectic in nature; however, the addition of dECM relatively decreases the overall viscosity of the solution with an approximated 50% decrease in viscosity from 15:0 to 70:9. Incorporating glutaraldehyde, a chemical crosslinker, increased the overall viscosity of the PVA/dECM solution. Aside from this, the increased addition of dECM influenced a decrease in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Young’s modulus. These are reflected in the 30.43 MPa and 19.07 MPa UTS values for 15:0 and 70:9 respectively, while 1.59 MPa and 0.49 for Young’s moduli. Conversely, the addition of more dECM promoted an increased ultimate swelling capacity of the PVA/dECM scaffold showing percent increases of 12%, 17%, and 29% from 30:1, 40:3, and 70:9 proportions relative to the 15:0 proportion. These were further verified by the generation of broader peaks among hydrophilic functional groups. Overall, results from all three proportions have the potential of being used in cartilage and soft tissue applications. Conducting additional tests such as anti-bacterial tests, scanning electron microscopy, and in-vitro test methods could help analyze the sterilization, porosity, and effective cell proliferation of fabricated scaffolds. These, along with the conducted study, could help improve and open more doors to 3D printing in the biomedical field.