Combining electrospinning and cell sheet technology for the development of a multiscale tissue engineered ligament...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Ligament ruptures are common sports injuries with current treatments having drawbacks like limited tissue availability and donor site morbidity.
• Stem cell therapy combined with electrospun scaffolds offers a novel approach for ligament tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a tissue-engineered ligament construct (TELC) using sheep mesenchymal stem cells (sMSCs) and polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun scaffolds.
• To assess the in vitro and in vivo performance of the TELC, including its mechanical properties, cell viability, and regenerative potential.

Main Methods:

• Sheep mesenchymal stem cells (sMSCs) were seeded onto a low fiber density polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun mesh to form a cell sheet.
• The cell sheet matured and integrated with the mesh over 4 weeks, then processed into a braided ligament-like construct.
• Live/dead assays assessed cell viability, mechanical testing evaluated properties, and ectopic implantation in rats assessed regenerative capacity.

Main Results:

• The TELC assembly did not significantly impact cell viability.
• The cellularized TELC exhibited a J-curve stress/displacement behavior, mimicking native ligaments, unlike non-cellularized constructs.
• In vivo evaluation showed TELC was well-colonized by host cells and underwent significant remodeling.

Conclusions:

• The developed TELC shows promising mechanical properties and in vivo regenerative potential.
• This stem cell-based approach offers a viable alternative to traditional ligament reconstruction methods.
• Further research could advance TELC for clinical application in treating ligament injuries.