Preparation and Characterization of Nanofibrous Polymer Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Polymer substrates obtained from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibres modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and gelatin (GEL) for cartilage tissue engineering are studied. The work presents the results of physical, mechanical, and biological assessment. The hybrid structure of PLA and gelatine nanofibres, carbon nanotubes- (CNTs-) modified PLA nanofibres, and pure PLA-based nanofibres was manufactured in the form of fibrous membranes. The fibrous samples with different microstructures were obtained by electrospinning method. Microstructure, physical and mechanical properties of samples made from pure PLA nanofibres, CNTs-, and gelatin-modified PLA-nanofibres were studied. The scaffolds were also testedin vitroin cell culture of human chondrocytes collected from patients. To assess the influence of the nanofibrous scaffolds upon chondrocytes, tests for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were performed. The work reveals that the nanofibrous structures studied were neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic, and their microstructure, physical and mechanical properties create promising scaffolds for potential use in cartilage repairing.

PLA-Based Hybrid and Composite Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds as Potential Materials for Tissue Engineering

“…The medium with pure PLA nonwoven (mat) served as a control sample (PLA). Biocompatibility of this material has been confirmed in previous studies of the authors [24].…”

“…The exposed CNT can induce regenerative processes, depending on the intended use, in bone, nervous, or cartilage tissue. In addition, polymeric fibrous scaffolds with a specific orientation of nanofibres may favour directional cell growth [24,46]. The biological test showed that the nanofibres containing the carbon nanotubes were not toxic.…”

“…The 3-dimensional hybrid structures manufactured by electroforming developed here may provide scaffolds for repair of cartilage defects, able to replace the natural extracellular matrix, for bone tissue regeneration and for nerve tissue regeneration. It was found that by adding 1% wt CNT significant change in electrical properties can be obtained, that is, from dielectric properties of pure PLA to semiconducting material PLA + CNT [24]. Such fibrous 3D structures can also assure integrity and stability between a newly formed tissue and the host tissue.…”

“…Numerous works have already proven the beneficial role of PLA structures in enhancing tissue formation and regeneration [20][21][22]. Considering the similarities between the fibres obtained via ES and the extracellular matrix, structures manufactured by the ES technique provide promising materials for tissue engineering scaffolds, especially to regenerate bone tissue [5][6][7], cartilage tissue [8,23,24], skeletal joints between them [25], or neural tissue [26][27][28]. Fibrous structures are considered to be applied to regenerate bone tissue, in the case 2 Journal of Nanomaterials of small bone defects occurring from illnesses, injuries, or tumour resections.…”

“…Due to their nanometer scale size, with a very high strength to weight ratio, they are very attractive as a nanoadditive to improve mechanical properties of polymers, including PLA fibres [38][39][40]. Moreover, CNT have been proven to modify electrical properties of the fibrous structures obtained via ES [24,38,40]. This property is important when stimulating bone tissue formation [41].…”