Chondro-Inductive b-TPUe-Based Functionalized Scaffolds for Application in Cartilage Tissue Engineering.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Osteoarthritis significantly impacts socioeconomic factors and affects articular cartilage, which has limited self-healing capabilities.
• 1,4-butanediol thermoplastic polyurethane (b-TPUe) scaffolds mimic cartilage mechanical properties but lack optimal cell adhesion characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To functionalize 3D printed b-TPUe scaffolds to improve cell adhesion and promote chondrogenesis for cartilage tissue engineering.
• To compare the efficacy of collagen type I and 1-pyrenebutiric acid (PBA) functionalization methods.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 3D printed b-TPUe scaffolds.
• Functionalization of scaffolds using collagen type I or PBA.
• Assessment of cell adhesion, proliferation, and viability using Alamar Blue and confocal microscopy.
• Evaluation of extracellular matrix synthesis and chondrogenic marker expression (Sox9, Col2a, Acan) via SEM and gene expression analysis.

Main Results:

• PBA functionalization supported higher cell adhesion and proliferation within the first 21 days.
• Collagen type I functionalization resulted in higher proliferation rates and comparable cell viability to PBA.
• Both functionalization methods promoted extracellular matrix synthesis and chondrogenic marker expression.
• SEM confirmed enhanced cell/biomaterial interactions and early chondrogenesis in functionalized scaffolds compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Functionalization of hydrophobic b-TPUe scaffolds with collagen type I or PBA significantly improves cell-biomaterial interactions.
• These enhanced interactions promote chondrogenesis, indicating potential for cartilage tissue engineering applications.