Abstract
The intervertebral disc degeneration and injury are the most common spinal diseases with tremendous financial and social implications. Regenerative therapies for disc repair are promising treatments. Fiber-reinforced materials (FRMs) are a kind of composites by embedding the fibers into the matrix materials. FRMs can maintain the original properties of the matrix and enhance the mechanical properties. By now, there are still some problems for disc repair such as the unsatisfied static strength and dynamic properties for disc implants. The application of FRMs may resolve these problems to some extent. In this review, six parts such as background of FRMs in tissue repair, the comparison of mechanical properties between natural disc and some typical FRMs, the repair standard and FRMs applications in disc repair, and the possible research directions for FRMs' in the future are stated.
Highlights
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a heterogeneous, cartilaginous structure which contributes to the flexibility and load support in the spine
It consists of three parts: the nucleus pulposus (NP) in the center, the annulus fibrosus (AF) peripherally, and the cartilaginous endplates (CE) [1]
Poly(3-caprolactone) (PCL)/b-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) nanofibre-reinforced hierarchical collagen scaffolds cell seeding efficiency increased from 55% for pure collagen scaffolds to 78% after fiber reinforced with tensile modulus increased by 7 times as well [28]
Summary
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a heterogeneous, cartilaginous structure which contributes to the flexibility and load support in the spine. According to the in vivo and vitro results, the interdiscal pressure under 300 N loading is approximately 1.3 MPa, the circumference stretch stress of the AF is 12.7 MPa [6], and the shear modulus is 25∼110 KPa [7] In this view, high mechanical properties and complex load bearing capacity are necessary for IVD repair materials. The fiber-reinforced technology is commonly used for increasing the mechanical properties of materials and some researchers are trying to use FRMs into the field of disc repair. Many biocompatible and biodegradable fiber-reinforced polymers combined with matrix form new mechanical enhanced FRMs and have mature application in bone repair field. The developments of FRMs in the field of disc tissue repair have very important practical applications and biomimetic meanings for the clinical spinal surgery
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
