Injectable 3D‐Printed Porous Scaffolds for Adipose Stem Cell Delivery and Endometrial Regeneration
Shun Lü, Xiaocheng Wang, Wenzhao Li, Yan Zu, Jian Xiao
Abstract
Abstract Stem‐cell‐based therapeutic strategies are promising in the clinical treatment of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs), while endometrial regeneration still hardly restores the structure and function of the endometrium because of the inadequate microenvironment for the grafted stem cells and subsequent limited therapeutic efficiency. Herein, an injectable porous hydrogel scaffold (PH scaffold) with customizable shapes is presented by using a microfluidic‐based 3D printing technique for adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) delivery to enhance endometrial regeneration. These scaffolds display a controllable interconnected porous structure, which not only facilitates the encapsulation of ADSCs within the scaffold but also supports the recovery to their original shapes after injection. Furthermore, the cell viability of the laden ADSCs is well‐maintained post‐injection, exhibiting promotive effects on cell migration, proliferation, and tube formation. Based on these features, an ADSCs‐laden PH scaffold with a hollow endometrium‐mimicking morphology is designed and in situ injected into the damaged endometrium in rats of IUAs. These results show that the ADSCs‐laden PH scaffolds can enhance functional endometrial regeneration by suppressing the inflammatory response, promoting cell proliferation, and improving vascularization. Thus, it is believed that such unique 3D‐printed porous scaffolds are promising candidates for cell delivery, which also provides a minimally‐invasive and effective strategy for endometrial regeneration.