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3D-printed PLA/Gel hybrid in liver tissue engineering: Effects of architecture on biological functions
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  • Elnaz Sadat Mirdamadi,
  • Zahra Khosrowpour,
  • Davod Jafari,
  • Mazaher Gholipourmalekabadi,
  • Mehran Solati-Hashjin
Elnaz Sadat Mirdamadi
Amirkabir University of Technology Department of Biomedical Engineering

Corresponding Author:elnazsadat.mirdamadi@uconn.edu

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Zahra Khosrowpour
Iran University of Medical Sciences
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Davod Jafari
Iran University of Medical Sciences
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Mazaher Gholipourmalekabadi
Iran University of Medical Sciences
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Mehran Solati-Hashjin
Amirkabir University of Technology Department of Biomedical Engineering
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Abstract

The liver is one of the vital organs in the body, and the gold standard of treatment for liver function impairment is liver transplantation, which poses many challenges. The specific 3D structure of liver, which significantly impacts the growth and function of its cells, has made biofabrication with the 3D printing of scaffolds suitable for this approach. In this study, to investigate the effect of scaffold geometry on the performance of HepG2 cells, Poly-Lactic acid (PLA) polymer was used as the input of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printing machine. Samples with simple square and bioinspired hexagonal cross-section designs were printed. 1% and 2% of gelatin-coating were applied to the 3D printed PLA to improve the wettability and surface properties of the scaffold. SEM pictures were used to analyze the structural properties of PLA-Gel hybrid scaffolds, EDS to investigate the presence of gelatin, water contact angle measurement for wettability, and weight loss for degradation. In vitro tests were performed by culturing HepG2 cells on the scaffold to evaluate the cell adhesion, viability, cytotoxicity, and specific liver functions. Then, high-precision scaffolds were printed and the presence of gelatin was detected. Also, the effect of geometry on cell function was confirmed in viability, adhesion, and functional tests. The albumin and urea production of the Hexagonal PLA scaffold was about 1.22 ­±0.02 fold higher than the square design in 3 days. This study will hopefully advance our understanding of liver tissue engineering toward a promising perspective for liver regeneration.
25 Aug 2022Submitted to Biotechnology and Bioengineering
23 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
23 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
28 Sep 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Oct 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Oct 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
29 Nov 20221st Revision Received
29 Nov 2022Submission Checks Completed
29 Nov 2022Assigned to Editor
29 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Accept