title: A semi-degradable composite scaffold for articular cartilage defects.
abstract: Few options exist to replace or repair damaged articular cartilage. The optimal solution that has been suggested is a scaffold that can carry load and integrate with surrounding tissues; but such a construct has thus far been elusive. The objectives of this study were to manufacture and characterize a nondegradable hydrated scaffold. Our hypothesis was that the polymer content of the scaffold can be used to control its mechanical properties, while an internal porous network augmented with biological agents can facilitate integration with the host tissue. Using a two-step water-in-oil emulsion process a porous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel scaffold combined with alginate microspheres was manufactured. The scaffold had a porosity of 11-30% with pore diameters of 107-187 μm, which readily allowed for movement of cells through the scaffold. Alginate microparticles were evenly distributed through the scaffold and allowed for the slow release of biological factors. The elastic modulus (Es ) and Poisson's ratio (υ), Aggregate modulus (Ha ) and dynamic modulus (ED ) of the scaffold were significantly affected by % PVA, as it varied from 10 to 20% wt/vol. Es and υ were similar to that of articular cartilage for both polymer concentrations, while Ha and ED were similar to that of cartilage only at 20% PVA. The ability to control scaffold mechanical properties, while facilitating cellular migration suggest that this scaffold is a potentially viable candidate for the functional replacement of cartilage defects.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, Tissue Engineering, Regeneration, and Repair Program, 535 E70th Street, New York, New York 10021.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Kiwon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: Lorenzo P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Serino
authors.forename: Russell F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Torzilli
authors.forename: Suzanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maher
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002460:Cell Line; D044962:Data Compression; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004655:Emulsions; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009821:Oils; D014867:Water; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol