Evaluation of polycaprolactone scaffold with basic fibroblast growth factor and fibroblasts in an athymic rat model for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common ligamentous injury often necessitating surgery. Current surgical treatment options include ligament reconstruction with autograft or allograft, which have their inherent limitations. Thus, there is interest in a tissue-engineered substitute for use in ACL regeneration. However, there have been relatively few in vivo studies to date. In this study, an athymic rat model of ACL reconstruction was used to evaluate electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) grafts, with and without the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and human foreskin fibroblasts. We examined the regenerative potential of tissue-engineered ACL grafts using histology, immunohistochemistry, and mechanical testing up to 16 weeks postoperatively. Histology showed infiltration of the grafts with cells, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated aligned collagen deposition with minimal inflammatory reaction. Mechanical testing of the grafts demonstrated significantly higher mechanical properties than immediately postimplantation. Acellular grafts loaded with bFGF achieved 58.8% of the stiffness and 40.7% of the peak load of healthy native ACL. Grafts without bFGF achieved 31.3% of the stiffness and 28.2% of the peak load of healthy native ACL. In this in vivo rodent model study for ACL reconstruction, the histological and mechanical evaluation demonstrated excellent healing and regenerative potential of our electrospun PCL ligament graft.
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Natalie Luanne
NL
Leong
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Nima
N
Kabir
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Armin
A
Arshi
2Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Azadeh
A
Nazemi
2Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Ben
B
Wu
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Frank A
FA
Petrigliano
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
David R
DR
McAllister
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D014945:Wound Healing
D011091:Polyesters; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C016240:polycaprolactone; D003094:Collagen