title: Poly (L-lactic acid) porous scaffold-supported alginate hydrogel with improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polymer porous scaffolds and hydrogels have been separately employed and explored for a wide range of applications including cell encapsulation, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a three-dimensional poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffold with interconnected and homogeneously distributed pores was fabricated to support the alginate hydrogel (Alg). The gels were filled into the porous scaffold, which acted as an analogue of native extracellular matrix (ECM) for entrapment of cells within a support of predefined shape. The mechanical strength of the composite scaffold was characterized by compression testing. The chondrocyte behavior in the scaffold was determined by inverted microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT viability assay. The repair efficiency of such a composite scaffold was further investigated in dog spinal defects by histological evaluation after implantation for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the composite scaffold possessed superior mechanical properties and hierarchical porous structure in comparison to pure Alg. Cell culture revealed that the cells presented a specific cartilage status in the composite scaffold in line with higher adherence and proliferation ratio. The histological analyses suggested that the composite scaffold substantially promotes its integration in the host tissue accompanied with a low inflammatory reaction and new tissue formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method thus provides a useful pathway for scaffold preparation that can simultaneously achieve suitable mechanical properties and good biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research and Cellular Therapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang - China.
authors.forename: Jiaqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Product Processing Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang - China.
authors.forename: Shaodong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research and Cellular Therapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang - China.
authors.forename: Liyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Materials Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle - Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou - China.
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research and Cellular Therapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang - China.
authors.forename: Junchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research and Cellular Therapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang - China.
authors.forename: Mingyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou - China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D004285:Dogs; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid