Co-Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Zein Articular Cartilage Scaffolds.
Andre M Souza Plath1, Stephanie Huber1, Serena R Alfarano2
1Laboratory for Orthopaedic Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 29, 2023
Summary
New poly(ε-caprolactone)/zein scaffolds improve osteoarthritis treatment by enhancing soft tissue integration and tribological properties. These biomimetic materials show increased cell activity and chondrocyte spreading for better articular tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Scaffold-based grafts for osteoarthritis often fail due to poor soft tissue integration and inadequate tribological properties.
- Developing advanced biomaterials is crucial for successful articular cartilage repair and regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/zein (PCL/zein) scaffolds with enhanced biomimetic capabilities for articular tissue engineering.
- To evaluate the surface properties and biocompatibility of these novel scaffolds using primary bovine chondrocytes.
Main Methods:
- Scaffold surfaces were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle measurements, and profilometry.
- Biocompatibility was assessed by measuring protein adsorption, cell spreading (F-actin staining), and metabolic activity (PrestoBlue™ assay) of bovine chondrocytes.
Main Results:
- Zein surface segregation significantly altered material hydrophobicity, decreasing water contact angles from 125° to ~60°.
- Zein incorporation reduced protein adsorption by half and enhanced chondrocyte metabolic activity and spreading.
- Surface nano-roughness of PCL/zein scaffolds further promoted radial cell spreading.
Conclusions:
- Co-electrospun PCL/zein scaffolds exhibit promising surface properties and enhanced biocompatibility.
- These scaffolds demonstrate potential for improving articular tissue engineering applications by addressing integration and tribological challenges.
