An innovative cell-laden a-tcp/collagen scaffold fabricated using a two-step printing process for potential application in regenerating hard tissues

Statement of Purpose Cell printing can directly print any cells, using a cell-laden hydrogel (bioink), on the required region of the scaffold, resulting in successful 3D tissue architecture with homogeneous cell proliferation. However, residual issues, such as poor mechanical properties and printability of cell-laden, hydrogel-based bioinks, make it difficult to obtain the highly porous, pore-interconnected structure and realistic macro-scale scaffolds [1]. Here, we propose a new strategy to fabricate an alpha-tricalciumphosphate (α-TCP)/collagen cell-laden scaffold to overcome the limits. A cell-laden pure collagen scaffold and an α-TCP/collagen scaffold loaded with cells via a simple dipping method were used as controls. As a result, the designed scaffold demonstrated significantly higher cellular activities compared with those of the controls. Our results indicate that the proposed cell-laden ceramic scaffold can potentially be used for bone regeneration.