RESUMO
This study investigated the influence of pore sizes of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds on the compressive strength of tissue-engineered biodiscs and selection of the best suitable pore size for cells to grow in vivo. PLGA scaffolds were fabricated by solvent casting/salt-leaching with pore sizes of 90-180, 180-250, 250-355 and 355-425 µm. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were seeded on PLGA scaffolds with various pore sizes. Each sample was harvested at each time point, after retrieval of PLGA scaffolds seeded with NP cells, which were implanted into subcutaneous spaces in nude mice at 4 and 6 weeks. MTT assay, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) assay, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, safranin O staining and immunohistochemistry (for collagen type II) were performed at each time point. As the pores became smaller, the value of the compressive strength of the scaffold was increased. The group of scaffolds with pore sizes of 90-250 µm showed better cell proliferation and ECM production. These results demonstrated that the compressive strength of the scaffold was improved while the scaffold had pore sizes in the range 90-250 µm and good cell interconnectivity. Suitable space in the scaffold for cell viability is a key factor for cell metabolism. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assuntos
Ácido Láctico/química , Núcleo Pulposo/fisiologia , Ácido Poliglicólico/química , Regeneração , Alicerces Teciduais/química , Animais , Adesão Celular , Diferenciação Celular , Proliferação de Células , Sobrevivência Celular , Células Cultivadas , Força Compressiva , Matriz Extracelular/química , Glicosaminoglicanos/química , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Teste de Materiais , Camundongos , Camundongos Nus , Copolímero de Ácido Poliláctico e Ácido Poliglicólico , Porosidade , Coelhos , Solventes/química , Estresse Mecânico , Engenharia Tecidual/métodosRESUMO
Building on our laboratory-scale optimization, oxalic acid was used to pretreat corncobs on the pilot-scale. The hydrolysate obtained after washing the pretreated biomass contained 32.55g/l of xylose, 2.74g/l of glucose and low concentrations of inhibitors. Ethanol production, using Scheffersomyces stipitis, from this hydrolysate was 10.3g/l, which approached the predicted value of 11.9g/l. Diafiltration using a membrane system effectively reduced acetic acid in the hydrolysate, which increased the fermentation rate. The hemicellulose content of the recovered solids decreased from 27.86% before pretreatment to only 6.76% after pretreatment. Most of the cellulose remained in the pretreated biomass. The highest ethanol production after simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of washed biomass with S. stipitis was 21.1g/l.