Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The architecture of an engineered scaffold is an important consideration in the design of a synthetic tissue replacement. We have begun to explore the use of heirarchical fiber scale design ranging from microscale nonwoven to 3-D integrated fiber bundles in orthopaedic tissue engineering applications. The use of heirarchical fiber and design includes the following advantages: 1) the ability to tailor a broad spectrum of substrates with a wide range of mechanical properties, and 2) the ability to create structures capable of supporting cell proliferation as well as the micro-diffusion of nutrients throughout the structure. Using the bioresorbable copolymer, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) [PLAGA], we have fabricated two matrices based on fiber technology: 1) a microfiber non-woven mesh composed of 50:50 PLAGA and 2) a 3-dimensional braided structure composed of 5:95 PLAGA. These structures were examined by scanning electron microscopy [SEM] in an in vitro cell culture environment. Matrices were seeded with two types of cells (osteoblasts from neonatal rat calvaria and fibroblasts from the BALB/C cell line) to determine the effect of matrix architecture on cellular morphology and proliferation. SEM analysis of the microfiber matrix indicated a highly porous, structure resulting from the random arrangement of the microfibers. PLAGA fibers appear to have a range in diameter from approximately 2-7 μm. The 3-D braided matrix was shown to have a organized fibrous structure resulting from the 3-D braiding process. Examination of the attachment and proliferation of cells on the matrices revealed that cell morphology and proliferation patterns were dependent on cell type and matrix geometry. SEM analysis also indicated that cells responded dynamically to changes in structure due to the onset of degradation.