Evaluation of Bilayer Polycaprolactone Scaffold for Osteochondral Regeneration in Rabbits

Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold have been developed as an alternative to natural donor tissue to repair a large osteochondral defect. The objective of this study is to evaluate efficacy and biocompatibility of bilayer PCL scaffold implanted for osteochondral repair in rabbit. Twenty-two male New Zealand White rabbits were used in this animal experiment. Rabbits were divided into three groups. Experimental surgery was carried out under general anesthesia. Osteochondral defects (5 mm diameter and 5 mm deep) were made in the center of the patellar groove using a 5 mm diameter biopsy punch. In group I (3D plotting) and group II (salt-leaching), the scaffold was implanted using the press-fitted technique into the defect. In control group, after osteochondral defect was created, the defect was left without implant. After four and eight weeks, rabbits were sacrificed and the defects were evaluated by macroand microscopical methods. There were not found animal death and severe inflammatory evidence during the experimental periods. There were no significant differences between the experimental groups in gross evaluation. However the group I scored significantly higher than group II at 8 weeks in histological evaluation (P < 0.05). The 3-D plotting PCL scaffold was more suitable method for reconstruction of osteochondral defect than a salt-leaching PCL scaffold.