Efficacy of 3D hydrogel scaffold for adipose tissue engineering application

• Main Author: Heng, Hui Min.
• Other Authors: Choong Swee Neo Cleo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/44538
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A paradigm shift from removal and replacement of diseased organs to regeneration of healthy organs has been witnessed in the biomedical field. Bone and skin tissue engineering has met with immense success, while research efforts have been directed in adipose, cartilage, heart valve and liver tissue engineering, amongst others. This project aims to investigate the efficacy of a commercially produced 3D hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Particular attention was paid to the effect of crosslinker concentration on the modulus of the scaffold. Mechanical tests results showed that increasing concentrations of crosslinker increases the moduli of the scaffolds. The Young’s modulus was found to be between 2.8 Pa and 8 Pa when subjected to a low shear rate of 0.0005 cm-1. To further enhance the mechanical properties of the scaffold, alternate dip coating was performed to apply a surface layer of calcium phosphate. Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM – EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses revealed differences between coated and coated samples. Cellular studies were carried out with adipose – derived mesenchymal cells (Ad-MSCs) to investigate the cell morphology, viability and proliferation in the scaffolds. This pilot study on 3D tissue engineering hydrogel scaffolds paves the way for future studies on the effect of modulus on the differentiation of Ad-MSCs.