Advanced biocompatible photolithographic scaffolds for tissue engineering

The present study is focused on the study of novel 3D hydrogel scaffolds for regenerative medicine. We are studying how shape, geometry, stiffness and in general the mechanical properties of the three dimensional scaffolds affect the mechanism of cellular differentiation. The physical features of the scaffolds, as the biochemical factors, determinate the fate of the steam cell. We fabricated innovative wood-pile structures to be hosted in into a hydrogel of poly ethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGda) in order to tailor the stiffness and elasticity of the final structures. These 3D scaffolds were obtained by an easy and low cost technique based on microstereolithography (μ-SLA) exploiting a commercial projector. We achieved resolution of about 200 microns. This simple method allows an advanced control of pore microarchitecture and the inclusion of microbubbles with various functionalities. The mechanical, morphological, biochemical and functional characteristics are discussed. Moreover, the effects of the structured scaffolds on the proliferation of adult stem cells is analysed in view of the fabrication of portion of contractile cardiac muscle to be obtained in vitro.