ABSTRACT
The use of scaffolds within tissue engineering is a promising technique to enable tissue regeneration. Important factors in cell-based scaffold tissue engineering strategies is cell seeding efficiency and subsequent cellular proliferation as this enables colonisation and remodelling of the scaffold. This study investigated the influence of pore size and fibre orientation on the seeding efficiency and cell proliferation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells in polycaprolactone scaffolds fabricated by a screw-assisted extrusion additive manufacturing technique. The results indicate that pore size and fibre orientation have no significant effect on cell seeding and proliferation, however scaffolds with 400 μm pore size and 0°/90° configuration show promise as a suitable architecture for cell proliferation. This study demonstrates a step in the optimisation process for tissue scaffolds that requires further investigation.
