A Stereolithography‐Based 3D Printed Hybrid Scaffold for In Situ Cartilage Defect Repair

Abstract

Damage to articular cartilage can over time cause degeneration to the tissue surrounding the injury. To address this problem, scaffolds that prevent degeneration and promote neotissue growth are needed. A new hybrid scaffold that combines a stereolithography-based 3D printed support structure with an injectable and photopolymerizable hydrogel for delivering cells to treat focal chondral defects is introduced. In this proof of concept study, the ability to a) infill the support structure with an injectable hydrogel precursor solution, b) incorporate cartilage cells during infilling using a degradable hydrogel that promotes neotissue deposition, and c) minimize damage to the surrounding cartilage when the hybrid scaffold is placed in situ in a focal chondral defect in an osteochondral plug that is cultured under mechanical loading is demonstrated. With the ability to independently control the properties of the structure and the injectable hydrogel, this hybrid scaffold approach holds promise for treating chondral defects.

Stereolithographic 3D Printing for Deterministic Control over Integration in Dual‐Material Composites

“…This study was motivated by the increasing demand for 3D printing in tissue engineering . In particular, 3D printed structures that are infilled with a cell‐laden hydrogel enable the design of cell‐laden hydrogel to be independent of the structural and/or mechanical needs of the scaffold for in vivo applications . For example, cartilage and bone require high modulus to support the mechanical forces applied during physical activity.…”

“…For engineering tissues subjected to mechanical forces, composite scaffolds have been designed with stiff materials embedded with soft hydrogels to meet the simultaneous demand for in vivo function and for cell and tissue growth . To this end, 3D printing methods have been employed to create mechanically supportive structures into which soft materials are incorporated . Examples include regenerative strategies for cartilage, bone, the cartilage‐bone junction, and the tendon–bone junction where the inclusion of 3D printed structures provides mechanical support.…”

Bioprinting a cell‐laden matrix for bone regeneration: A focused review

“…45,52 Limitations in the number of suitable materials, restriction in geometric fidelity, and dependency of accuracy to laser beam diameter are the observed challenge in this method. 53 FDM technology (Figure 1(c)) is a low cost, simple, high speed, and commonly used method to fabricate thermoplastic-based scaffolds. Herein, filaments melt into the semiliquid state and then extruded layer-by-layer through the nozzle on the platform according to the 3D designed file.…”

Three Dimensional Printing-Based Strategies for Functional Cartilage Regeneration

“…Some research groups have attempted to demonstrate the feasibility of using scaffolds prepared by SLA technology to regenerate cartilage or osteochondral defects. [59][60][61][62][63] Ahn et al fabricated poly(propylene fumarate) scaffolds through a micro-SLA method, and immobilized arginine-glycine-aspartate peptide to 3D scaffolds. The scaffold could effectively support initial adhesion and proliferation of human chondrocytes.…”