3D Printed Chondrogenic Functionalized PGS Bioactive Scaffold for Cartilage Regeneration

Abstract

Tissue engineering is emerging as a promising approach for cartilage regeneration and repair. Endowing scaffolds with cartilaginous bioactivity to obtain bionic microenvironment and regulating the matching of scaffold degradation and regeneration play a crucial role in cartilage regeneration. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a representative thermosetting bioelastomer known for its elasticity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility and is widely used in tissue engineering. However, the modification and drug loading of the PGS scaffold is still a key challenge due to its high temperature curing conditions and limited reactive groups, which seriously hinders its further functional application. Here, a simple versatile new strategy of super swelling‐absorption and cross‐linked networks locking is presented to successfully create the 3D printed PGS‐CS/Gel scaffold for the first time based on FDA‐approved PGS, gelatin (Gel) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). The PGS‐CS/Gel scaffold exhibits the desirable synergistic properties of well‐organized hierarchical structures, excellent elasticity, improved hydrophilicity, and cartilaginous bioactivity, which can promote the adhesion, proliferation, and migration of chondrocytes. Importantly, the rate of cartilage regeneration can be well‐matched with degradation of PGS‐CS/Gel scaffold, and achieve uniform and mature cartilage tissue without scaffold residual. The bioactive scaffold can successfully repair cartilage in a rabbit trochlear groove defect model indicating a promising prospect of clinical transformation.

Mechanically skin-like and water-resistant self-healing bioelastomer for high-tension wound healing

“…PGS was employed as the crosslinking point because it led to a more flexible polymeric chain and enhanced the mechanical properties. In addition, PGS is biodegradable, biocompatible, and widely used as an ideal bioelastomer material for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [ 42 , 43 ]. Because of the presence of flexible crosslinking networks, WRSHEs become a thermosetting material that significantly swells in organic solvents.…”

“…PGS prepolymer was synthesized by polymerization of sebacic acid and glycerol, as previously reported [ 42 , 43 ]. PGS prepolymer (2.5 g) was dissolved in 10 mL THF.…”

Recent Progress in Advanced Polyester Elastomers for Tissue Engineering and Bioelectronics

“…Therefore, PPF can be dissolved in a solvent, then printed into a porous bone scaffold in 2 h. Dual-drug or multiple-drug delivery scaffolds are extensively sought after to promote bone regeneration, as the regeneration process is regulated by a variety of bioactive molecules [132]. Hybrid scaffold is a promising method to match the bone microenvironment, carry the cells, and deliver multiple bioactive agents [137,[140][141][142]. Zhou et al [137] developed a biomimetic scaffold by assembling short electrospun nanofibers containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles which were loaded with dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG).…”

A xenogeneic extracellular matrix-based 3D printing scaffold modified by ceria nanoparticles for craniomaxillofacial hard tissue regeneration via osteo-immunomodulation

“…Maxillofacial hard tissues including bones and teeth usually have sophisticated morphology and structure, which can cause great difficulty for autologous bone transplantation [3]. Three-dimensional (3D)-printed engineering scaffolds have been applied in hard tissue regeneration including bones, cartilages and teeth [4][5][6][7][8], and are considered promising for repairing the complex maxillofacial hard tissue defects because of its personalized fabrication. Apart from personalization, 3D printing could endow the scaffolds controllable porous and hierarchical structure to build a proper microenvironment for regeneration [9][10][11][12].…”

“…Several attempts have been made to alleviate the immune resistance by loading anti-inflammatory drugs like rosiglitazone on xTDM, whose potency was erratic for the unstable combination [22,23]. 3D printing could provide a stable drug-loading system because biodegradable polymer materials can be used as printing ink and stably encapsulate drug particles, and followed by its degeneration, the predictable release could be achieved [8,12]. The host immune system can not only cause the rejection against implanted xECM, but influence the hard tissue regeneration as well [4,12,[24][25][26].…”