Alginate/cartilage extracellular matrix-based injectable interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

In the present study, alginate/cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM)-based injectable hydrogel was developed incorporated with silk fibroin nanofibers (SFN) for cartilage tissue engineering. The in situ forming hydrogels were composed of different ionic crosslinked alginate concentrations with 1% w/v enzymatically crosslinked phenolized cartilage ECM, resulting in an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). The response surface methodology (RSM) approach was applied to optimize IPN hydrogel's mechanical properties by varying alginate and SFN concentrations. The results demonstrated that upon increasing the alginate concentration, the compression modulus improved. The SFN concentration was optimized to reach a desired mechanical stiffness. Accordingly, the concentrations of alginate and SFN to have an optimum compression modulus in the hydrogel were found to be 1.685 and 1.724% w/v, respectively. The gelation time was found to be about 10 s for all the samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed homogeneous dispersion of the SFN in the hydrogel, mimicking the natural cartilage environment. Furthermore, water uptake capacity, degradation rate, cell cytotoxicity, and glycosaminoglycan and collagen II secretions were determined for the optimum hydrogel to support its potential as an injectable scaffold for articular cartilage defects.

Recent Applications of Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffold in Tissue Engineering

“…Shojarazavi et al [81] fabricated an electrospun nanofibrous silk fibroin combined with alginate/cartilage extracellular matrix hydrogel for cartilage tissue regeneration. The results showed that increasing the alginate concentration enhanced the compression elastic properties, as well as water retention potential, degradability, cell viability, and aggrecan and collagen type II synthesis for the best hydrogel, promoting it as a nanocomposite scaffold for cartilage injury regeneration [ 81 ]. Chen et al [82] designed a novel 3D porous electrospun polylactic acid combined with gelatin/chondroitin sulfate scaffold for cartilage tissue regeneration ( Figure 3 ).…”

Application of Nanometer Heavy-duty Coating in the Optimization of Process Parameters for Power Generation Machinery

“…Anticorrosion coatings are modified by adding nanoparticles with different particle sizes or different kinds of nanoparticles with the same particle size, which often makes anticorrosion coatings, have different properties [ 6 ]. Nanomodified anticorrosive coatings are prepared by embedding inorganic nanoparticles into organic substrates through in situ generations of nanoparticles and direct dispersion of nanoparticles to improve the performance of polymers and coatings [ 7 , 8 ]. After the polymer monomer is mixed with the soluble inorganic molecular precursor, it is dissolved in a specific solvent, and the polymer reacts to generate inorganic nanoparticles [ 9 ].…”

Advanced 3D-Printing Bioinks for Articular Cartilage Repair

“…A recent study by Shojarazavi et al . developed an injectable IPN hydrogel composed of ionic crosslinked alginate, enzymatically crosslinked phenolized ECM and silk fibrin nanofibers[ 100 ]. The results show that with optimized concentration of alginate and silk fibrin nanofibers, the compression modulus and the mechanical stiffness of the hydrogels could be both improved.…”