title: Semi-degradable scaffold for articular cartilage replacement.
abstract: Existing technologies have not met the challenge of designing a construct for the repair of focal cartilage defects such that it mimics the mechanical properties of and can integrate with native cartilage. Herein we describe a novel construct consisting of a non-degradable poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) scaffold to provide long-term mechanical stability, interconnected pores to allow for the infiltration of chondrocytes, and poly-lactic glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres for the incorporation of growth factors to enhance cellular migration. The objective of this study was to characterize the morphological features and mechanical properties of our porous PVA-PLGA construct as a function of PLGA content. Varying the PLGA content was found to have a significant effect on the morphological features of the construct. As PLGA content increased from 10% to 75%, samples exhibited a 6-fold increase in average percentage porosity, an increase in average microsphere diameter from 8 to 34 microm and an increase in average pore diameter from 29 to 111 microm. The effect of PLGA content on aggregate modulus and permeability was less profound. Our findings suggest that that morphology of the construct can be tailored to optimize cellular infiltration and the dynamic mechanical response. The experiments herein presented were conducted at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Tissue Engineering, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Devon C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Charlton
authors.forename: Margaret G E
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowman
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Torzilli
authors.forename: Suzanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maher
mesh_terms: D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D002358:Cartilage, Articular; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol