APPLICATION OF THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING ON MANUFACTURING BIONIC SCAFFOLDS OF SPINAL CORD IN RATS

Objective To fabricate the bionic scaffolds of rat spinal cord by combining three dimensional(3D) printer and 3D software, so as to lay the foundation of theory and technology for the manufacture of scaffolds by using biomaterials. Methods Three female Sprague Dawley rats were scanned by 7.0T MRI to obtain the shape and position data of the cross section and gray matter of T8 to T10 spinal cord. Combined with data of position and shape of nerve conduction beam, the relevant data were obtained via Getdata software. Then the 3D graphics were made and converted to stereolithography(STL) format by using Solid Works software. Photosensitive resin was used as the materials of spinal cord scaffolds. The bionic scaffolds were fabricated by 3D printer. Results MRI showed that the section shape of T8 to T10 segments of the spinal cord were approximately oval with a relatively long sagittal diameter of(2.20±0.52) mm and short transverse diameter of(2.05±0.24) mm, and the data of nerve conduction bundle were featured in the STL format. The spinal cord bionic scaffolds of the target segments made by 3D printer were similar to the spinal cord of rat in the morphology and size, and the position of pores simulated normal nerve conduction of rat spinal cord. Conclusion Spinal cord scaffolds produced by 3D printer which have similar shape and size of normal rat spinal cord are more bionic, and the procedure is simple. This technology combined with biomaterials is also promising in spinal cord repairing after spinal cord injury.