3D Printed Scaffold Structures and Methods of Fabrication

Abstract

An implantable scaffold device comprises a non-biodegradable backbone and a biodegradable dermal compartment comprising live cells. Method of fabricating implantable devices via 3D printing using a synthetic ink formulation coprinted with a biodegradable bioink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable scaffold device comprising a non-biodegradable support portion and a biodegradable dermal portion. 
     
     
         2 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , wherein said support portion comprises a first hydrogel and said dermal portion comprises a second hydrogel. 
     
     
         3 . The scaffold device of  claim 2 , wherein said first hydrogel comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of a polyether, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinyl, a polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , wherein said dermal portion comprises a biopolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The scaffold device of  claim 4 , wherein said biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, fibrin, elastin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and alginate. 
     
     
         6 . The scaffold device of  claim 4 , wherein said dermal portion comprises gelatin methacrylate. The scaffold device of  claim 1 , wherein said dermal portion comprises autologous cells of a subject. 
     
     
         8 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , wherein said scaffold is fabricated via three-dimensional (3D) printing. 
     
     
         9 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , wherein said dermal portion further comprises a population of fibroblasts and/or a population of keratinocytes. 
     
     
         10 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , further comprising an epidermal portion, said support portion intermediate said epidermal portion and said dermal portion. 
     
     
         11 . The scaffold device of  claim 10 , wherein said epidermal portion comprises a population of keratinocytes. 
     
     
         12 . The scaffold device of  claim 10 , wherein said epidermal portion comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         13 . The scaffold device of  claim 12 , wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a proangiogenic, and a growth hormone. 
     
     
         14 . The scaffold device of  claim 1 , which is a nipple-areola complex implant. 
     
     
         15 . A method of 3D printing an implantable scaffold device, comprising the step of coprinting a non-biodegradable support portion using a synthetic ink formulation and a biodegradable dermal portion using a biodegradable bioink formulation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said synthetic ink formulation comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of a polyether, a polyacrylamide, a polyvinyl, a polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said bioink formulation comprises a biopolymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, fibrin, elastin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and alginate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said synthetic ink formulation comprises a thickener. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said bioink formulation comprises a population of fibroblasts and/or a population of keratinocytes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said implantable scaffold device is configured as a nipple-areola complex.