Biomechanical characterization of a novel collagen‐hyaluronan infused 3D‐printed polymeric device for partial meniscus replacement

Abstract

The menisci transmit load by increasing the contact area and decreasing peak contact stresses on the articular surfaces. Meniscal lesions are among the most common orthopedic injuries, and resulting meniscectomies are associated with adverse polycaprolactone contact mechanics changes and, ultimately, an increased likelihood of osteoarthritis. Meniscus scaffolds were fabricated by 3D‐printing a network of circumferential and radial filaments of resorbable polymer (poly(desaminotyrosyl‐tyrosine dodecyl ester dodecanoate)) and infused with collagen‐hyaluronan. The scaffold demonstrated an instantaneous compressive modulus (1.66 ± 0.44 MPa) comparable to native meniscus (1.52 ± 0.59 MPa). The scaffold aggregate modulus (1.33 ± 0.51 MPa) was within 2% of the native value (1.31 ± 0.36 MPa). In tension, the scaffold displayed a comparable stiffness to native tissue (127.6–97.1 N/mm) and an ultimate load of 33% of the native value. Suture pull‐out load of scaffolds (83.1 ± 10.0 N) was within 10% of native values (91.5 ± 15.4 N). Contact stress analysis demonstrated the scaffold reduced peak contact stress by 60–67% and increased contact area by 38%, relative to partial meniscectomy. This is the first meniscal scaffold to match both the axial compressive properties and the circumferential tensile stiffness of the native meniscus. The improvement of joint contact mechanics, relative to partial meniscectomy alone, motivates further investigation using a large animal model. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2457–2465, 2019.

Six-Month Outcomes of Clinically Relevant Meniscal Injury in a Large-Animal Model

“…Stifles were thawed overnight and dissected as described previously, keeping ligaments intact. 6 Joints were fixed at 45° of flexion 25 , 63 , 75 in a custom aluminum testing jig. Thin-film pressure sensors (I-Scan 6900; TekScan) were equilibrated and calibrated no more than 24 hours before testing, 82 before being sealed with waterproof tape to create an extended tab for insertion.…”

Transection of the medial meniscus anterior horn results in cartilage degeneration and meniscus remodeling in a large animal model

“…An additional 7.9‐mm‐diameter hole was drilled in the same plane, approximately 38 mm proximal to the first set of drilled holes. A custom aluminum testing jig in combination with 6.35‐mm‐diameter stainless steel pins was used to fix the joints at desired flexion angles 33 (Figure 2A). Thin film pressure sensors (I‐Scan 6900; Tekscan, Boston, MA) were equilibrated and calibrated no more than 24 hours before testing using previously established methods 34 .…”

Meniscal Regenerative Scaffolds Based on Biopolymers and Polymers: Recent Status and Applications

“…However, collagen scaffolds displayed poor mechanical properties and much faster degradation rates than scaffolds consisting of polysaccharides and synthetic polymers; thus, the combination of collagen with other natural polymers and biomolecules was investigated ( Subbiah and Guldberg, 2019 ; da Silva Morais et al, 2020 ). For example, a collagen/hyaluronan-infused, 3D-printed polymeric scaffold for partial meniscus replacement showed enhanced mechanical properties that could simultaneously satisfy the requirements for resistance to axial compression and circumferential tension ( Ghodbane et al, 2019 ).…”