Injectable Cholesterol-Enhanced Stereocomplex Polylactide Thermogel Loading Chondrocytes for Optimized Cartilage...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Ideal cartilage tissue engineering demands scaffolds with biocompatibility, large pores, high mechanical strength, and minimally invasive application.
• While polymer scaffolds have advanced, creating smart systems with all desired properties remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate stereocomplex 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) thermogels as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.
• To investigate the impact of cholesterol modification on scaffold properties and cartilage regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of stereocomplex poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) thermogels (scPLAgel) and cholesterol-modified versions (scPLA-Cholgel).
• Characterization of gelation temperature, mechanical strength, pore size, chondrocyte adhesion, and degradation rates.
• In vitro evaluation of engineered cartilage using scPLAgel and scPLA-Cholgel scaffolds, assessing morphology, biomechanical properties, matrix deposition, and gene expression.

Main Results:

• scPLA-Cholgel exhibited lower critical gelation temperature, higher mechanical strength, larger pore size, and improved chondrocyte adhesion compared to scPLAgel.
• Cholesterol modification led to slower degradation of scPLA-Cholgel.
• Engineered cartilage using scPLA-Cholgel showed superior preservation of morphology, biomechanical properties, cartilaginous matrix, and gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Cholesterol modification significantly enhances the properties of stereocomplex PEG-PLA thermogels for cartilage tissue engineering.
• scPLA-Cholgel is a promising chondrocyte carrier, offering a superior alternative for cartilage regeneration and clinical repair.