Preparation of hybrid meniscal constructs using hydrogels and acellular matrices

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Meniscus tears are common injuries requiring effective repair strategies.
• Current meniscus repair materials often lack ideal mechanical and biological properties.
• Acellular scaffolds offer a promising base for tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel acellular hybrid scaffolds for meniscus tissue engineering.
• To investigate the physicochemical and mechanical properties of these hybrid scaffolds.
• To assess the biocompatibility and cell viability of the developed materials.

Main Methods:

• Decellularization of meniscus tissue to create an acellular matrix.
• Functionalization of gelatin with methacrylic anhydride (GelMA).
• Fabrication of hybrid scaffolds (G-Hybrid, PG-Hybrid, PGH-Hybrid) via 3D interpenetrating networks and UVA cross-linking.
• Characterization using DNA quantification, 1H-NMR, FTIR, swelling studies, mechanical testing, TGA, and Alamar Blue assay.

Main Results:

• Decellularization reduced DNA content by 82%; functionalization achieved 75% GelMA modification.
• Hybrid scaffolds exhibited swelling properties similar to native meniscus tissue.
• Enhanced mechanical properties were observed, particularly in the PGH-Hybrid construct.
• Scaffolds demonstrated good thermal stability and low mass loss in PBS and enzymatic solutions.
• High cell viability (above 80%) was maintained in the hybrid constructs.

Conclusions:

• The developed acellular hybrid scaffolds possess tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties suitable for meniscus repair.
• These biomaterials show excellent biocompatibility and mimic native tissue behavior.
• The findings support the potential application of these scaffolds in meniscus tissue engineering.