The effect of PEGT/PBT scaffold architecture on the composition of tissue engineered cartilage

J. Malda*, T. B.F. Woodfield, F. Van Der Vloodt, C. Wilson, D. E. Martens, J. Tramper, C. A. Van Blitterswijk, J. Riesle

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

176 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A highly interconnecting and accessible pore network has been suggested as one of a number of prerequisites in the design of scaffolds for tissue engineering. In the present study, two processing techniques, compression-molding/particulate-leaching (CM), and 3D fiber deposition (3DF), were used to develop porous scaffolds from biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-terephthalate/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEGT/PBT) co-polymers with varying pore architectures. Three-dimensional micro-computed tomography (μCT) was used to characterize scaffold architectures and scaffolds were seeded with articular chondrocytes to evaluate tissue formation. Scaffold porosity ranged between 75% and 80%. Average pore size of tortuous CM scaffolds (182μm) was lower than those of organized 3DF scaffolds (525μm). The weight ratio of glycosaminoglycans (GAG)/DNA, as a measure of cartilage-like tissue formation, did not change after 14 days of culture whereas, following subcutaneous implantation, GAG/DNA increased significantly and was significantly higher in 3DF constructs than in CM constructs, whilst collagen type II was present within both constructs. In conclusion, 3DF PEGT/PBT scaffolds create an environment in vivo that enhances cartilaginous matrix deposition and hold particular promise for treatment of articular cartilage defects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-72
Number of pages10
JournalBiomaterials
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

Keywords

  • Cartilage tissue engineering
  • Cell culture
  • Chondrocytes
  • In vitro
  • In vivo
  • Scaffold

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of PEGT/PBT scaffold architecture on the composition of tissue engineered cartilage'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this