Direct Laser Fabrication of Composite Material 3D Microstructured Scaffolds

We present direct laser fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) microstructured scaffolds consisting out of a few polymeric materials having different biological properties. Direct laser writing in photo/thermo-sensitive materials using ultra short light pulses of high repetition rate laser provides unmatched flexibility in controllable 3D microstructuring of a variety of biocompatible materials. It enables manufacturing of structures with sizes of up to 1 cm(3) overnight, making it an attractive method to fabricate scaffolds for cell studies and tissue engineering applications. We have manufactured 3D microporous multicomponent polymer scaffolds out of different organic-inorganic substances. Such composite constructions offer several biological functionalities including biostability or biodegradation (depending on the material used) as well as the possibility to micro/nanopattern the surface with various bioactive materials such as proteins, all spatially distributed within a structure with 1 - 10 mu m features. The potential of this approach is applicable for cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation mechanism studies in 3D as well as suggesting the answer for best material and architecture combinations for scaffold needed in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.