Improvements in scaffold design are needed to realize the potential of  tissue engineering to heal critical-sized cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) bone defects. In particular, scaffolds that can precisely match the irregular boundaries of bone defects as well as exhibit an interconnected pore morphology and bioactivity would enhance tissue regeneration. In this work, a shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffold was developed exhibiting an open porous structure and the capacity to conformally �self-fit� into irregular defects. The SMP scaffold was prepared via photocrosslinking of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) diacrylate using a solvent casting/particulate leaching (SCPL) method which included a fused salt template. A bioactive polydopamine coating was applied to the pore walls. Following exposure to warm saline at T > Ttrans (Ttrans = Tm of PCL), the scaffold became malleable and could be pressed into an irregular model defect. Subsequent cooling caused the scaffold to lock in its temporary shape within the defect. Polydopamine-coated scaffolds exhibited superior bioactivity (i.e. formation of hydroxyapatite in vitro), osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, osteogenic gene expression and ECM deposition.

"Self-fitting� shape memory polymer (SMP) scaffold with potential to treat cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) bone defects

248th National Meeting (2014)

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