Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Camarero‐Espinosa, Sandra
• Carlos‐Oliveira, Maria
• Liu, Hong
• Mano, João F.
• Bouvy, Nicole
• Moroni, Lorenzo

Titel

3D Printed Dual‐Porosity Scaffolds: The Combined Effect of Stiffness and Porosity in the Modulation of Macrophage Polarization

Ist Teil von

• Advanced healthcare materials, 2022-01, Vol.11 (1), p.e2101415-n/a

Ort / Verlag

Germany: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

Wiley HSS Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Tissue regeneration evolves toward the biofabrication of sophisticated 3D scaffolds. However, the success of these will be contingent to their capability to integrate within the host. The control of the mechanical or topographical properties of the implant appears as an ideal method to modulate the immune response. However, the interplay between these properties is yet not clear. Dual‐porosity scaffolds with varying mechanical and topographical features are created, and their immunomodulatory properties in rat alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo in a rat subcutaneous model are evaluated. Scaffolds are fabricated via additive manufacturing and thermally induced phase separation methods from two copolymers with virtually identical chemistries, but different stiffness. The introduction of porosity enables the modulation of macrophages toward anti‐inflammatory phenotypes, with secretion of IL‐10 and TGF‐β. Soft scaffolds (<5 kPa) result in a pro‐inflammatory phenotype in contrast to stiffer (>40 kPa) scaffolds of comparable porosities supporting a pro‐healing phenotype, which appears to be related to the surface spread area of cells. In vivo, stiff scaffolds integrate, while softer scaffolds appear encapsulated after three weeks of implantation, resulting in chronic inflammation after six weeks. The results demonstrate the importance of evaluating the interplay between topography and stiffness of candidate scaffolds. The immune response to implants can be regulated through the surface topography and mechanical properties. There is an interplay between these two parameters; while stiff scaffolds readily promote a pro‐healing phenotype, macrophages in soft scaffolds require the presence of big surface features or pores. These parameters dictate the surface spread area of the cells that appears to define their phenotype.