Polylactide-Based Biodegradable Scaffolds Fabricated by Two-Photon Polymerization for Neurotransplantation

The aim of the investigation was to form biodegradable 3D microstructured scaffolds compatible with progenitor neuronal cells as a perspective approach to neurotransplantation. Materials and Methods. Photosensitive compositions were obtained from branched polylactides using Michler's ketone photoinitiator. The 3D microstructured scaffolds were fabricated by two-photon polymerization method. Results. 3D microstructured scaffolds with a high spatial resolution have been fabricated from reactive polylactides by two-photon polymerization. The surface of scaffolds represents a structure with a high degree of roughness (1 mu m average roughness). Dissociated hippocampal cells (from embryonic mice) adhere well to the matrix material, and active growth of axons and dendrites takes place. By day 10 of in vitro cultivation a well-branched neuron-glial network is visualized on a 3D construct. The developed structures have been found to possess a high biocompatibility with the primary hippocampal cultures, which suggests their application as matrix-carriers for the cells of the nervous system.