Abstract
Effective restoration of human intervertebral disc degeneration is challenged by numerous limitations of the currently available spinal fusion and arthroplasty treatment strategies. Consequently, use of artificial biomaterial implant is gaining attention as a potential therapeutic strategy. Our study is aimed at investigating and characterizing a novel knitted titanium (Ti6Al4V) implant for the replacement of nucleus pulposus to treat early stages of chronic intervertebral disc degeneration. Specific knitted geometry of the scaffold with a porosity of 67.67 ± 0.824% was used to overcome tissue integration failures. Furthermore, to improve the wear resistance without impairing original mechanical strength, electro-polishing step was employed. Electro-polishing treatment changed a surface roughness from 15.22 ± 3.28 to 4.35 ± 0.87 µm without affecting its wettability which remained at 81.03 ± 8.5°. Subsequently, cellular responses of human mesenchymal stem cells (SCP1 cell line) and human primary chondrocytes were investigated which showed positive responses in terms of adherence and viability. Surface wettability was further enhanced to super hydrophilic nature by oxygen plasma treatment, which eventually caused substantial increase in the proliferation of SCP1 cells and primary chondrocytes. Our study implies that owing to scaffolds physicochemical and biocompatible properties, it could improve the clinical performance of nucleus pulposus replacement.
Highlights
Effective restoration of human intervertebral disc degeneration is challenged by numerous limitations of the currently available spinal fusion and arthroplasty treatment strategies
Introduction of this knitted titanium implant in the clinical setting necessitates further characterisation with respect to host bio-compatibility and bio-functionality, our present study investigated the physio-chemical properties of the scaffold and cellular responses of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell as well as the primary chondrocytes upon surface modification by oxygen plasma treatment
We have further demonstrated that the proliferation of the adherent-cells on the scaffold has been elevated as compared to non-treated conditions
Summary
Effective restoration of human intervertebral disc degeneration is challenged by numerous limitations of the currently available spinal fusion and arthroplasty treatment strategies. The main interest of the current study was to hydrophilize the surface of knitted titanium implant for which, this plasma treatment was applied as a favorable approach to increase the wettability, augmenting the mesenchymal as well as primary chondrocyte cell growth. Since, introduction of this knitted titanium implant in the clinical setting necessitates further characterisation with respect to host bio-compatibility and bio-functionality, our present study investigated the physio-chemical properties of the scaffold and cellular responses of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell as well as the primary chondrocytes upon surface modification by oxygen plasma treatment
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