Dados do Trabalho

Título

Screening of biomaterials for the production of a 3D printed structural model of the hippocampus

Introdução

The hippocampus is essential in the learning process and memory consolidation. In basic research, in addition to the nervous system complexity, there is a limitation in reproducing the physiological context of neurodegeneration: most experimental models use monolayer cells, making it difficult to reproduce the cell arrangement and physiological connectivity. Models produced in 3D printers create an environment with anatomical fidelity and cytoarchitecture that mimics real tissue. In this work, we evaluated four biomaterials for cytotoxicity and cell adhesion capacity to serve as a template for 3D printing. Polypyrrole is a conductive polymer and has been extensively investigated because it is electrically polarized. PLGA favors cell adhesion, proliferation and extracellular matrix production. PCL is a polymer widely used for making scaffolds due to its excellent biocompatibility. PLA is one of the polymers used by 3D printers to create molds.

Objetivo

This work aims to evaluate these biomaterials for cell viability and paracrine effect, choosing the most suitable for in vitro models and to be used in the 3D hippocampus template.

Método

Biomaterials were produced by oxidative polymerization. The protocol for cytotoxicity was performed according to ISO 10993. The 3T3 lineage cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 1% penicillin/streptomycin and 0.1% gentamicin. In order to assess the influence of the medium on cell adhesion, biomaterials were kept in contact with the same cell culture medium, at times of 24, 72 hours and 7 days; after the cells were exposed to the conditioned medium (CdM) and their viability evaluated.

Resultados

Regarding viability, no relevant differences were found between the groups, except for the reduction in the 7 days CdM PCL group. In the analysis of indirect adherence, there were no statistical differences between the PCL and 70/30 (70% PCL and 30% PLGA) groups. In the PLA group with 7 days CdM, a reduction in adhesion was observed when the cells were placed in contact with the medium, compared to the group always cultivated in PLA. In the PPY group of 24h CdM, the cells had lower adhesion potential when cultivated under normal conditions and newly cultivated with CdM. Using 72 hours CdM, the same conditions had the reverse effect, increasing the adhesion potential.

Conclusão

As PLA allows direct 3d printing and did not show any change in cell viability, it appears to be the best candidate for future 3D modeling in our laboratorys work.

Palavras-chave

hippocampus, polymers, 3D printing