Melt electrowriting onto anatomically relevant biodegradable substrates: Resurfacing a diarthrodial joint. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peiffer, Quentin C.; de Ruijter, Mylène; van Duijn, Joost; Crottet, Denis; Dominic, Ernst; Malda, Jos; Castilho, Miguel
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 195(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Fibre-reinforced hydrogels -- Anatomical surfaces -- Electrostatics -- Electrospinning -- Osteochondral defects -- Biofabrication; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2020.109025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Abstract: Three-dimensional printed hydrogel constructs with well-organized melt electrowritten (MEW) fibre-reinforcing scaffolds have been demonstrated as a promising regenerative approach to treat small cartilage defects. Here, we investige how to translate the fabrication of small fibre-reinforced structures on flat surfaces to anatomically relevant structures. In particular, the accurate deposition of MEW-fibres onto curved surfaces of conductive and non-conductive regenerative biomaterials is studied. This study reveals that clinically relevant materials with low conductivities are compatible with resurfacing with organized MEW fibres. Importantly, accurate patterning on non-flat surfaces was successfully shown, provided that a constant electrical field strength and an electrical force normal to the substrate material is maintained. Furthermore, the application of resurfacing the geometry of the medial human femoral condyle is confirmed by the fabrication of a personalised osteochondral implant. The implant composed of an articular cartilage-resident chondroprogenitor cells (ACPCs)-laden hydrogel reinforced with a well-organized MEW scaffold retained its personalised shape, improved its compressive properties and supported neocartilage formation after 28 days in vitro culture. Overall, this study establishes the groundwork for translating MEW from planar and non-resorbable material substrates to anatomically relevant geometries and regenerative materials that the regenerative medicine field aims to create. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Microfibre patterning onto an anatomical relevant structure and clinically relevant materials is demonstrated. Accurate microfibre patterning is demonstrated on both electrically conductive and non-conductive materials. Fabrication of a microfibre-reinforced, cell-laden hydrogel that resurfaces a human biological joint replica is shown