Development of biodegradable scaffolds based on magnetically guided assembly of magnetic sugar particles

Biodegradable scaffolds with controlled pore layout and porosity have great significance in tissue engineering for cell penetration, tissue ingrowth, vascularization, and nutrient delivery. Porogen leaching has been commonly used to control pore size, pore structure and porosity in the scaffold. In this paper we focus on the use/development of two magnetically guided porogen assembly methods using magnetic sugar particles (MSPs) for scaffold fabrication. First, a patterning device is utilized to align MSPs following designed templates. Then a magnetic sheet film is fabricated by mixing poly(vinyl alcohol, PVA) and NdFeB powder for steering the MSPs. After poly(l-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) (PLCL) casting and removal of the sugar template, a scaffold with spherical pores is obtained. The surface and the inner structure of the scaffolds are evaluated using light and electron micrographs showing their interconnection of pores, pore wall morphology and porosity. Single layer scaffolds with the size of 8 mm in width and 10 mm in length were constructed with controllable pore diameters in the ranges of 105–150 μm, 250–300 μm and 425–500 μm.

► Magnetic sugar particles are used as porogens for fabricating sheet-like and tubular scaffold.
► We utilize a patterning device to align magnetic sugar particles following designed templates.
► Magnetic PVA is introduced to improve the layout of pores.
► Controllable diameters and appropriate interconnection of pores is achieved in small-size scaffold.