{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T03:56:46Z","timestamp":1791086206192,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,6]],"date-time":"2023-12-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1701820800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Brescia"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Scaffolds for tissue engineering are expected to respond to a challenging combination of physical and mechanical requirements, guiding the research towards the development of novel hybrid materials. This study introduces innovative three-dimensional bioresorbable scaffolds, in which a stiff poly(lactic acid) lattice structure is meant to ensure temporary mechanical support, while a bioactive gelatin\u2013chitosan hydrogel is incorporated to provide a better environment for cell adhesion and proliferation. The scaffolds present a core\u2013shell structure, in which the lattice core is realized by additive manufacturing, while the shell is nested throughout the core by grafting and crosslinking a hydrogel forming solution. After subsequent freeze-drying, the hydrogel network forms a highly interconnected porous structure that completely envelops the poly(lactic acid) core. Thanks to this strategy, it is easy to tailor the scaffold properties for a specific target application by properly designing the lattice geometry and the core\/shell ratio, which are found to significantly affect the scaffold mechanical performance and its bioresorption. Scaffolds with a higher core\/shell ratio exhibit higher mechanical properties, whereas reducing the core\/shell ratio results in higher values of bioactive hydrogel content. Hydrogel contents up to 25 wt% could be achieved while maintaining high compression stiffness (&gt;200 MPa) and strength (&gt;5 MPa), overall, within the range of values displayed by human bone tissue. In addition, mechanical properties remain stable after prolonged immersion in water at body temperature for several weeks. On the other hand, the hydrogel undergoes gradual and homogeneous degradation over time, but the core\u2013shell integrity and structural stability are nevertheless maintained during at least 7-week hydrolytic degradation tests. In vitro experiments with human mesenchymal stromal cells reveal that the core\u2013shell scaffolds are biocompatible, and their physical\u2013mechanical properties and architecture are suitable to support cell growth and osteogenic differentiation, as demonstrated by hydroxyapatite formation. These results suggest that the bioresorbable core\u2013shell scaffolds can be considered and further studied, in view of clinically relevant endpoints in bone regenerative medicine.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym15244631","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,6]],"date-time":"2023-12-06T08:48:32Z","timestamp":1701852512000},"page":"4631","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["New Poly(lactic acid)\u2013Hydrogel Core\u2013Shell Scaffolds Highly Support MSCs\u2019 Viability, Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7478-239X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chiara","family":"Pasini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Materials Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Pandini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Materials Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4219-8695","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federica","family":"Re","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4231-9162","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matteo","family":"Ferroni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics (DICATAM), University of Brescia, Via Valotti 9, 25123 Brescia, Italy"},{"name":"National Research Council (CNR)\u2014Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Bologna, Via Gobetti, 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9746-0876","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisa","family":"Borsani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Domenico","family":"Russo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0268-6467","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luciana","family":"Sartore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Materials Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.3109\/21691401.2016.1146731","article-title":"Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for tissue engineering application: A review","volume":"45","author":"Asghari","year":"2017","journal-title":"Artif. 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