| Scaffold-based tendon tissue engineering offers a promising alternative to tackle the unmet needs. This study incorporates both uniaxial stretching and laser punching techniques to fabricate a bioresorbable tendon scaffold. The scaffold was designed to be three-dimensional tubular shape with micro patterns on the surface, with the aim to achieve cell alignment. The whole fabrication process involved two roll milling, heat pressing, laser punching as well as uniaxial stretching, to process poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) pellets into tubular tendon scaffold (TTS). Result showed that TTS at a draw ratio of 4 presented distinct ridges and grooves, with optimal morphological parameters that was favorable for cell alignment. Higher crystallinity was observed on TTS as compared to the raw material, attributed to the recrystallization of PCL after uniaxial stretching. Nevertheless, polydispersity index was maintained, suggesting that a slower degradation rate would be observed, while retaining the hydrolytic degradation behaviour. As a result of strain hardening, TTS was mechanically stronger than the un-stretched sample. From the in-vitro study, TTS exhibited excellent biocompatibility with 100 % cell viability throughout the period of cell culturing in comparison with the control. Phalloidin/DAPI staining result demonstrated that TTS exhibited cell alignment. This study demonstrated that TTS possessed excellent biocompatibility, while promoting cell alignment for tendon tissue engineering applications. On the whole, TTS was demonstrated as a promising alternative to replace the conventional approaches of restoring tendon function. |
