title: A Bioinspired Ultraporous Nanofiber-Hydrogel Mimic of the Cartilage Extracellular Matrix.
abstract: A true biomimetic of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) could greatly contribute to our ability to regenerate this tissue in a mechanically demanding, often inflamed environment. Articular cartilage is a composite tissue made of cells and fibrillar proteins embedded in a hydrophilic polymeric meshwork. Here, a polyanionic functionalized alginate is used to mimic the glycosaminoglycan component of the native ECM. To create the fibrillar component, cryoelectrospinning of poly(ε-caprolactone) on a -78 °C mandrel, subsequently treated by O2plasma, is used to create a stable, ultraporous and hydrophillic nanofiber network. In this study, cell-laden, fiber-reinforced composite scaffolds thicker than 1.5 mm can be created by infiltrating a chondrocyte/alginate solution into the fiber mesh, which is then physically cross-linked. The fibrillar component significantly reinforces the chondroinductive, but mechanically weak sulfated alginate hydrogels. This allows the production of a glycosaminoglycan- and collagen type II-rich matrix by the chondrocytes as well as survival of the composite in vivo. To further enhance the system, the electrospun component is loaded with dexamethasone, which protected the cells from an IL-1β-mediated inflammatory insult.
authors.affiliation: Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Florian A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Formica
authors.affiliation: Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ece
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wendelin J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maniura-Weber
authors.affiliation: Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rottmar
authors.affiliation: Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenobi-Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000464:Alginates / Q000378:metabolism; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D024043:Collagen Type II; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers
keywords: alginate; electrospinning; extracellular matrix; nanofiber; reinforcement