Hybrid fabrication method of 3D bio-scaffolds for neural tissue regeneration made with a novel biomaterial (No. 0215)

Summary

To date, there is no effective treatment for spinal cord damage. A promising new approach involves introducing artificial scaffolds at the site of injury for stem cell tissue regeneration. Whilst lithography offers control over scaffold architecture, it is slow, size-limiting and introduces non-biodegradable materials. Electrospinning is a much faster and lower-cost manufacturing alternative: a personalized scaffold can be produced within hours as opposed to days using conventional lithographic techniques, which has a huge impact on the patient’s prognosis. However, scaffolds fabricated by conventional electrospinning are mostly 2-dimensional, don’t allow customization of scaffolding parameters such as geometry, thickness and fiber alignment, and are not sufficiently conductive to be suitable for neural tissue applications. A team of OIST researchers has developed a novel composite biomaterial and a high-precision electrospinning process for the rapid fabrication of 3D fibrous scaffolds which are precisely tailored to fit the site of injury. This is a ground-breaking step towards the development of low-cost, personalized regenerative treatments for spinal cord damage.

Applications

• Neuroregeneration
• Potential for regeneration of other types of tissue, such as heart
• Development of nano-electronics for biological systems

Advantages

• Conductive and biodegradable
• Highly tunable properties
• Bedside technology: fast and precise fabrication for better healing after injury