Freeze-Drying as a Novel Biofabrication Method for Achieving a Controlled Microarchitecture within Large, Complex Natural Biomaterial Scaffolds

Claire M. Brougham, Tanya J. Levingstone, Nian Shen, Gerard M. Cooney, Stefan Jockenhoevel, Thomas C. Flanagan, Fergal J. O'Brien*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The biofabrication of large natural biomaterial scaffolds into complex 3D shapes which have a controlled microarchitecture remains a major challenge. Freeze-drying (or lyophilization) is a technique used to generate scaffolds in planar 3D geometries. Here we report the development of a new biofabrication process to form a collagen-based scaffold into a large, complex geometry which has a large height to width ratio, and a controlled porous microarchitecture. This biofabrication process is validated through the successful development of a heart valve shaped scaffold, fabricated from a collagen-glycosaminoglycan co-polymer. Notably, despite the significant challenges in using freeze-drying to create such a structure, the resultant scaffold has a uniform, homogenous pore architecture throughout. This is achieved through optimization of the freeze-drying mold and the freezing parameters. We believe this to be the first demonstration of using freeze-drying to create a large, complex scaffold geometry with a controlled, porous architecture for natural biomaterials. This study validates the potential of using freeze-drying for development of organ-specific scaffold geometries for tissue engineering applications, which up until now might not have been considered feasible.? 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials
Volume6
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Nov 2017

Keywords

  • collagen
  • freeze-drying
  • heart valves
  • scaffolds
  • tissue engineering

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