Layered gelatin/PLLA scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning and 3D printing- for nasal cartilages and subchondral bone reconstruction

Highlights: • Electrospinning and 3D printing were combined in order to create layered scaffolds for cartilage and bone reconstruction. • Gelatin fibers electrospun on the surface of 3D printed scaffold improved cell adhesion and proliferation • Large pores were designed in the 3D printed scaffold for better implant fixation and further gelatin infiltration. In the present work the advantages of two kinds of different, well known and applicable, biomaterials (PLLA and gelatin) and two kinds of scaffold fabrication techniques (3D printing - FDM and electrospinning) were combined in order to create a novel multifunctional layered scaffold for nasal cartilages and subchondral bone reconstruction. The pore size of scaffolds produced by 3D printing technology was designed to solve the problem that otolaryngologists currently have with fixing the nasal cartilage implant with needle and threads. The effect of the solution concentration for the electrospinning process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of gelatin nanofibers produced as well as the influence of drug concentration on the mechanical properties of membranes were investigated. The commercially available FDM – 3D printing system was used. 3D scaffolds varying in structure and geometry were designed and printed. The influence of the internal architecture of 3D printed scaffolds on their mechanical properties was tested. Hybrid layered scaffolds consisting of a top gelatin nanofibrous layer and a bottom 3D printed porous PLLA material were developed. The mineralization ability of a scaffold was determined in simulated body fluid. The cytotoxicity, proliferation and morphology of Murine fibroblasts L929 cultured on obtained biomaterials were evaluated.