title: Design, synthesis and properties of a degradable polyurethane scaffold for meniscus regeneration.
abstract: Longitudinal lesions in menisci are among the most frequent orthopedic problems of the knee. Repair by simple techniques is only limited to the vascular part of the meniscus. For repair of the avascular part of the meniscus a scaffold, which will assist the body in the formation of new meniscus cell tissue, might be applicable. In this study a biomedical segmented polyurethane with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) as soft segment and 1,4-butanediisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol as uniform hard segments has been synthesised. The material has a micro phase separated morphology and excellent mechanical properties. A porous scaffold was prepared via a combination of liquid-liquid phase separation and salt leaching. The foams prepared combined a very high interconnectivity and porosity with the desired compression modulus. After six months of implantation in the knees of beagles full ingrowth with cells was obtained and it was found that meniscus like tissue had been formed in the scaffold. Moreover, compression behaviour appeared to be comparable to native meniscus tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R G J C
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Heijkants
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: van Calck
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: De Groot
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pennings
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: van Tienen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramrattan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buma
authors.forename: R P H
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Veth
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002072:Butylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D044366:Transition Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002072:Butylene Glycols; D017953:Isocyanates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011509:Proteoglycans; C016240:polycaprolactone; D003094:Collagen