[Construction of a novel tissue engineered meniscus scaffold based on low temperature deposition three-dimenisonal...

To investigate the construction of a novel tissue engineered meniscus scaffold based on low temperature deposition three-dimenisonal (3D) printing technology and evaluate its biocompatibility.

The fresh pig meniscus was decellularized by improved physicochemical method to obtain decellularized meniscus matrix homogenate. Gross observation, HE staining, and DAPI staining were used to observe the decellularization effect. Toluidine blue staining, safranin O staining, and sirius red staining were used to evaluate the retention of mucopolysaccharide and collagen. Then, the decellularized meniscus matrix bioink was prepared, and the new tissue engineered meniscus scaffold was prepared by low temperature deposition 3D printing technology. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructure. After co-culture with adipose-derived stem cells, the cell compatibility of the scaffolds was observed by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), and the cell activity and morphology were observed by dead/live cell staining and cytoskeleton staining. The inflammatory cell infiltration and degradation of the scaffolds were evaluated by subcutaneous experiment in rats.

The decellularized meniscus matrix homogenate appeared as a transparent gel. DAPI and histological staining showed that the immunogenic nucleic acids were effectively removed and the active components of mucopolysaccharide and collagen were remained. The new tissue engineered meniscus scaffolds was constructed by low temperature deposition 3D printing technology and it had macroporous-microporous microstructures under scanning electron microscopy. CCK-8 test showed that the scaffolds had good cell compatibility. Dead/live cell staining showed that the scaffold could effectively maintain cell viability (>90%). Cytoskeleton staining showed that the scaffolds were benefit for cell adhesion and spreading. After 1 week of subcutaneous implantation of the scaffolds in rats, there was a mild inflammatory response, but no significant inflammatory response was observed after 3 weeks, and the scaffolds gradually degraded.

The novel tissue engineered meniscus scaffold constructed by low temperature deposition 3D printing technology has a graded macroporous-microporous microstructure and good cytocompatibility, which is conducive to cell adhesion and growth, laying the foundation for the in vivo research of tissue engineered meniscus scaffolds in the next step.