Hypotrochoidal scaffolds for cartilage regeneration

Materials Today Bio, vol. 23, pp. 100830

Abstract

The main function of articular cartilage is to provide a low friction surface and protect the underlying subchondral bone. The extracellular matrix composition of articular cartilage mainly consists of glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Specifically, collagen type II fibers have an arch-like organization that can be mimicked with segments of a hypotrochoidal curve. In this study, a script was developed that allowed the fabrication of scaffolds with a hypotrochoidal design. This design was investigated and compared to a regular 0-90 woodpile design. The mechanical analyses revealed that the hypotrochoidal design had a lower component Young's modulus while the toughness and strain at yield were higher compared to the woodpile design. Fatigue tests showed that the hypotrochoidal design lost more energy per cycle due to the damping effect of the unique microarchitecture. In addition, data from cell culture under dynamic stimulation demonstrated that the collagen type II deposition was improved and collagen type X reduced in the hypotrochoidal design. Finally, Alcian blue staining revealed that the areas where the stress was higher during the stimulation produced more glycosaminoglycans. Our results highlight a new and simple scaffold design based on hypotrochoidal curves that could be used for cartilage tissue engineering.

Authors 7

1. Kenny A. van Kampen

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitsingel 40, 6229ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands

2. Elena Olăreț

   Universitatea Națională de Știință și Tehnologie Politehnica București

   Affiliation as printed

   Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061, Bucharest, Romania

3. Izabela‐Cristina Stancu

   Universitatea Națională de Știință și Tehnologie Politehnica București

   Affiliation as printed

   Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061, Bucharest, Romania

4. Daniela F. Duarte Campos

   Heidelberg University

   Affiliation as printed

   Bioprinting & Tissue Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology Heidelberg (ZMBH), Heidelberg University, Germany

5. Horst Fischer Aachen Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

6. Carlos Mota

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitsingel 40, 6229ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands

7. Lorenzo Moroni corresponding

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitsingel 40, 6229ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands