The 3D-Printed Bilayer's Bioactive-Biomaterials Scaffold for Full-Thickness Articular Cartilage Defects Treatment.

Kittiya Thunsiri,Siwasit Pitjamit,Wassanai Wattanutchariya,Dumnoensun Pruksakorn,Peraphan Pothacharoen,Wasawat Nakkiew

doi:10.3390/ma13153417

Kittiya Thunsiri, Siwasit Pitjamit + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153417

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Journal: Materials	Publication Date: Aug 3, 2020
Citations: 27	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Chiang Mai University

Abstract

The full-thickness articular cartilage defect (FTAC) is an abnormally severe grade of articular cartilage (AC) injury. An osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) is the recommended treatment, but the increasing morbidity rate from osteochondral plug harvesting is a limitation. Thus, the 3D-printed bilayer’s bioactive-biomaterials scaffold is of major interest. Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were blended with hydroxyapatite (HA) for the 3D-printed bone layer of the bilayer’s bioactive-biomaterials scaffold (B-BBBS). Meanwhile, the blended PLA/PCL filament was 3D printed and combined with a chitosan (CS)/silk firoin (SF) using a lyophilization technique to fabricate the AC layer of the bilayer’s bioactive-biomaterials scaffold (AC-BBBS). Material characterization and mechanical and biological tests were performed. The fabrication process consists of combining the 3D-printed structure (AC-BBBS and B-BBBS) and a lyophilized porous AC-BBBS. The morphology and printing abilities were investigated, and biological tests were performed. Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to predict the maximum load that the bilayer’s bioactive-biomaterials scaffold (BBBS) could carry. The presence of HA and CS/SF in the PLA/PCL structure increased cell proliferation. The FEA predicted the load carrying capacity to be up to 663.2 N. All tests indicated that it is possible for BBBS to be used in tissue engineering for AC and bone regeneration in FTAC treatment.

Highlights

Articular cartilage (AC) injury from chronic joint stress or acute traumatic injuries results in pain and swelling, causing long-term problems for patients [1,2,3,4]
The AC is devoid of blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves, there is a limited capacity for intrinsic healing and repair [3,4,5,6]
Materials 2020, 13, 3417 to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) cartilage lesion classification system, the most abnormally severe grade is classified when the lesion extends from the superficial of the AC to the subchondral bone [7,8]

Summary

Introduction

Articular cartilage (AC) injury from chronic joint stress or acute traumatic injuries results in pain and swelling, causing long-term problems for patients [1,2,3,4]. The most promising technique to help full-thickness AC defect (FTAC) patients to resume their previous sporting activities is the osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT), in which the defect is filled with the same person’s osteochondral (OC) tissue taken from less weight-bearing areas on the femoral condyle. This can be in the form of either a single large OC plug or multiple small plugs, and it achieves a congruency of the AC surface in the load-bearing zone of the femoral condyle [6,9].

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