Fabrication and Characterization of a Polymer Based Three Compartmental Scaffold for Fibrocartilage Regeneration

Abstract

Tissue engineering applies the principles of biology and engineering to the development of viable substitutes that restore, maintain or improve the function of human tissues. It depends upon a temporary scaffold that is an architecture that functions to mechanically support the cells and regulate the functions of cells in a manner analogous to extracellular matrix of mammalian tissue. It also assist in 3D tissue formation or organogenesis. The scaffolds must have the capability to incorporate mammalian tissue and assist in their growth, migration and differentiation which will help in tissue regeneration. Due to its unique properties, it is used in implantation. The most common injuries include the damage of cartilages, tendons and ligaments. So globally musculoskeletal tissue engineering is given undue importance. During ligament injury the injured ligaments are not successfully replaced by ligament-alone grafts. Thus there is a need for the construction of a composite scaffold to allow stem cell to differentiate into fibrocartilage that bridges of Bone-Ligament interface. The current project has focused on the fabrication of a silk-based knitted scaffold for fibrocartilage regeneration. Bio-polymers such as silk solution and chitosan were used for surface modification of the knitted silk scaffold, to ensure differentiation of the MSCs into fibrocartilage lineages. Lyophilization process was used for coating of polymers over the knitted silk scaffold. Characterization of the polymer coated knitted silk scaffold was done using XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, FTIR. Water absorption capacity of the knitted silk scaffold was also studied. It was concluded that the multi-compartment silk based scaffold developed in house has the novelty for tissue engineering the bridge component between bone and ligament i.e. fibrocartilaginous enthesis.