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A multilayer tissue engineered meniscus substitute

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Abstract

Various methods have been tried to treat the main meniscus problem, meniscal tears, for which we believe tissue engineering could be a viable solution. In this study, a three dimensional, collagen-based meniscus substitute was prepared by tissue engineering using human fibrochondrocytes and a collagen based-scaffold. This construct was made with 3 different collagen-based foams interspaced with two electrospun nano/microfibrous mats. The top layer was made of collagen type I–chondroitin sulfate–hyaluronic acid (Coll–CS–HA), and the middle and the bottom layers were made of only collagen type I with different porosities and thus with different mechanical properties. The mats of aligned fibers were a blend of collagen type I and poly(l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). After seeding with human fibrochondrocytes, cell attachment, proliferation, and production of extracellular matrix and glucoseaminoglycan were studied. Cell seeding had a positive effect on the compressive properties of foams and the 3D construct. The 3D construct with all its 5 layers had better mechanical properties than the individual foams.

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Acknowledgments

Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Turkey (SanTez project No. 00356.STZ.2009-1), and TUBITAK (Program: 2215) who supported this study and Dr. A. Ndreu Halili are gratefully acknowledged. We would also like to thank Dr. A. Kiziltay for her contribution through mechanical testing and acknowledge Kocaeli University KÖGEM (Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice) for performing flow cytometry analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, METU, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Albana Ndreu Halili, Nesrin Hasirci & Vasif Hasirci

  2. Department of Chemistry, METU, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Nesrin Hasirci

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology Research Unit, METU, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Vasif Hasirci

  4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, METU, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Nesrin Hasirci & Vasif Hasirci

  5. METU Center of Excellence in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (BIOMATEN), Ankara, Turkey

    Albana Ndreu Halili, Nesrin Hasirci & Vasif Hasirci

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  1. Albana Ndreu Halili
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Correspondence to Vasif Hasirci.

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Halili, A.N., Hasirci, N. & Hasirci, V. A multilayer tissue engineered meniscus substitute. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 25, 1195–1209 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-014-5145-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-014-5145-0

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