Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

INTEGRATING NANOCAPSULES INTO 3-D BIOMIMETIC SCAFFOLDS TO FACILITATE LOCALIZED AND CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

Porous and biocompatible 3-dimensional scaffolds are important platforms for tissue and organ engineering due to their ability to promote cell adhesion, support growth and facilitate cell differentiation. 3-D scaffolds can be engineered to closely mimic cellular and tissue environments, as well as be tunable for different cell types. However, improving the features of 3-D scaffolds with localized, sustained and controlled agent release can enhance the current state of tissue engineering. Tuning these scaffolds to deliver agents such as drugs, proteins and nucleic acids, during a certain period is part of the next phase of tissue engineering. In this work, the integration of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA loaded nanocapsules into biocompatible porous 3-D scaffolds to enhance tissue engineering is investigated. PLGA nanocapsules were successfully fabricated to encapsulate the model protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), with the BSA loaded nanocapsules exhibiting adhesion to the scaffold. Release studies indicated that scaffolds embedded with nanocapsules exhibit release profiles that are distinct from free, non-embedded nanocapsules. This provided insight into the influence of the scaffold architecture on drug release. The effects of Ultra Violet light sterilization on nanocapsule-embedded scaffolds was also investigated, further providing information on preparation and sterilization protocols required to material handling. These findings provide an understanding of the implications of creating a multifunctional, 3-D, porous and biocompatible scaffold.