eSolubilized amniotic membrane ECM as a promising biological surface treatment approach for 3D-printed bone tissue engineering scaffolds

In this study, the fused deposition modeling method was used to fabricate 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL). This study introduces a cost-effective post-fabrication treatment by using a Solubilized Amniotic Membrane (SAM) extracellular matrix (ECM) as a biological surface modifier. The employment of SAM provides an easy approach to overcoming the current challenges in the way of using fresh, cryopreserved, or dehydrated tissue. Four groups were included in this study, including neat PCL, oxygen plasma-treated PCL, SAM 0.001%w/v (SAM1), and SAM 0.005%w/v (SAM5). According to the SEM images, the diameter of each 3D-printed filament and filament distance were around 573 μm and 372 μm, respectively. The FTIR-ATR spectra confirmed the presence of amide groups in specimen, containing SAM. A higher weight loss rate was obtained for oxygen plasma-treated PCL and SAM-containing samples than neat PCL. The results of in vitro studies revealed that the optimized content of SAM (SAM 5) could promote the osteogenesis potency of Wharton-Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSCs), cultured on the 3D-printed scaffolds in terms of alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition and real-time PCR assessment of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteonectin. Also, in vivo, the collagen content in the control group and SAM 5 was 30.89 ± 1.73 and 44.24 ± 2.91, respectively. According to the Micro-CT assessment, the bone volume fraction was remarkably improved in the presence of SAM5 as it increased from 36.52 ± 1.56% in the control group to 42.66 ± 2.17% in SAM5. The results of the present study provide a promising surface modification approach by employing SAM for the future of bone tissue engineering scaffolds.