Biomimetic structured surfaces increase primary adhesion capacity of cartilage implants

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Scaffold-assisted techniques are crucial for cartilage regeneration.
• Fixating cartilage implants in moist arthroscopic conditions remains a significant orthopaedic challenge.
• Nature offers solutions for adhesion under difficult conditions, inspiring biomimetic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adhesion capacity of a modified polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffold using a tree-frog adhesive system model.
• To compare the adhesion of a structurally modified PGA scaffold against a non-structured control in a bovine articular cartilage defect model.

Main Methods:

• Polyglycolic acid (PGA) implants were modified with a simplified foot-pad structure, mimicking natural adhesion mechanisms.
• The modified and non-structured PGA scaffolds were tested on full-thickness femoral cartilage defects in bovine models.
• Adhesion capacity was measured using a dynamometer on 20 mm × 20 mm defects.

Main Results:

• The structured PGA scaffolds demonstrated superior adhesion compared to the non-structured scaffolds.
• The biomimetic structural modification significantly improved the scaffold's ability to adhere to the cartilage defect.

Conclusions:

• Biomimetic structured surfaces can enhance the adhesion of cartilage implants.
• This approach offers a chemical-free method to improve primary fixation in cartilage repair procedures.
• The findings facilitate easier and more effective fixation during arthroscopic surgery.