3-D printing of biodegradable scaffolds to restore scar tissue: Design and model of a PLA proof of concept.

VALENZUELA MATIAS; ANAHI BELLATTI; RISK MARCELO; GUZMAN GUIDO; GUTIERREZ LUCIANA; LUIS MAZZUOCOLLO; SORDELLI ANDREA; ADRIANA RINFLERCH; BOLONTRADE MARCELA

Piriapolis

Congreso; Reunion anual de la SABI; 2020

Abstract? Tissue engineering (TI) has become relevant particularly because more than 150 million peopleworldwide have functional problems in tissues or organs. One of the strategies to restore function is the applicationof biomaterials with pre-administered cells. Materials to be used constitute one of the fundamental points in thisprocess, since they positively or negatively influence the survival of the cells. One of the best known biomaterialsis polylactic acid (PLA), a polyester with several metabolic roles, therefore its generation from PLA would allowrecycling within the general metabolism. 3D-printing is being applied in IT to address the need for tissues andorgans suitable for transplantation, and implies additional complexities, not only because of the possibility ofcombining materials and cells, but also because of the possibility of incorporating growth and/or differentiationfactors. We approached the feasibility of printing biologically plausible tissue structures for organ replacementusing 3D-printers and PLA as biomaterial. To this end we printed tubes as scaffolds that would substitute scartissue. By Fusion 360 we designed tubes of 14.0 mm long (tolerance of ±0.05mm) and 5.4 mm in diameter (toleranceof ±0.05mm) of 1.72 mm thick PLA, with and without compartments, that were sterilized by UV light and ethyleneoxide. The printing was done on a modified MakerParts1 printer with a 0.2mm diameter spout. Size, macrostructureand porosity would suit recellularization. We are currently approaching the use of fibroblasts to adhere to thescaffold to help in the regeneration process of the target tissue and provide anchoring for epithelial cells.Keywords? PLA, 3-D Printing, tissue engineering, bioprinting.