Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
d
n
3
r
4
n
g
|
1
Figure 9.9
(a) Top and side view of fabricated PCL-HA (9 : 1 wt%) scaffolds with
incorporated vascular channels. (b) Isolated and ligated inferior epi-
gastric vessel inserted into the vascular channel of the scaffold.
(c) Explanted scaffolds were transferred as composite tissue-polymer-
free flaps (d) to the scalp of rats (e) or stained with haematoxylin and
eosin (H&E) (f-h). (F) Evidence of blood vessel formation (red) with
surrounding connective tissue (blue); these areas together represent a
vascular channel that was prefabricated within the PCL-HA scaffold.
(g) Multiple capillaries (red) are also seen in areas of connective tissue,
indicating extensive neovascularisation. (h) Control scaffolds only show
granulated tissue without notable evidence of neovascularisation.
Adapted from Muller et al.
74
.
gene expression, but formation of mineralised bone was not detected his-
tologically. Micro-CT analysis of explants revealed all composite scaffolds
showed successful vascularisation with osteoblast transplantation having a
considerable effect on increasing the blood vessel outgrowth from the A-V
loop.
75
This demonstrated that vein grafts may be used to induce vascular-
isation and eventually allow the generation of axially vascularised tissues
with minimal donor site morbidity.
9.7.2 Hybrid Osteochondral Scaffolds
The clinical applications of FDM fabricated PCL scaffolds is not limited to
bone regeneration. By altering the processing parameters, PCL scaffolds of
Search WWH ::
Custom Search