Abstract
Articular cartilage defects affect millions of people worldwide, including children, adolescents, and adults. Progressive wear and tear of articular cartilage can lead to progressive tissue loss, further exposing the bony ends and leaving them unprotected, which may ultimately cause osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). Unlike other self-repairing tissues, cartilage has a low regenerative capacity; once injured, the cartilage is much more difficult to heal. Consequently, developing methods to repair this defect remains a challenge in clinical practice. In recent years, tissue engineering applications have employed the use of three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds for growing cells to regenerate damaged cartilage. However, these scaffolds are mainly chemically synthesized polymers or are crosslinked using organic solvents. Utilizing 3D printing technologies to prepare biodegradable natural composite scaffolds could replace chemically synthesized polymers with more natural polymers or low-toxicity crosslinkers. In this study, collagen/oligomeric proanthocyanidin/oxidized hyaluronic acid composite scaffolds showing high biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties were prepared. The compressive strengths of the scaffolds were between 0.25–0.55 MPa. Cell viability of the 3D scaffolds reached up to 90%, which indicates that they are favorable surfaces for the deposition of apatite. An in vivo test was performed using the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat skull model. Histological images revealed signs of angiogenesis and new bone formation. Therefore, 3D collagen-based scaffolds can be used as potential candidates for articular cartilage repair.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The largest joint in the human body is the knee, which carries the body’s weight and is majorly responsible for our smooth mobility and stability; especially, it is used heavily in sports
Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis was performed to confirm the chemical bonding on oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), and this was compared with pure hyaluronic acid (HA) (Figure 1)
The two aldehyde peaks that were observed in the FTIR spectra indicate the successful oxidation of hyaluronic acid in the scaffold system
Summary
The largest joint in the human body is the knee, which carries the body’s weight and is majorly responsible for our smooth mobility and stability; especially, it is used heavily in sports. Common defects in load-bearing are the main reason for the weakened and damaged knee cartilage. Accumulation of gradual wear and tear, repetitive actions, or a sudden injury can cause lesions in cartilage, potentially leading to early post-traumatic degeneration, chronic repetitive micro-trauma, and developmental defects well-known. As osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) [1,2]. Worldwide, are affected by cartilage defects annually. In the United States, an estimated 200,000–300,000 patients have undergone cartilage surgery [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
