Design of an electrospun tubular construct combining a mechanical and biological approach to improve tendon repair

Abstract

Hand tendon injuries represent a major clinical problem and might dramatically diminish a patient’s life quality. In this study, a targeted solution for flexor tendon repair was developed by combining a mechanical and biological approach. To this end, a novel acrylate-endcapped urethane-based polymer (AUP) was synthesized and its physico-chemical properties were characterized. Next, tubular repair constructs were developed using electrospinning of the AUP material with incorporated naproxen and hyaluronic acid (i.e. anti-inflammatory and anti-adhesion compounds, respectively), and with a tubular braid as mechanical reinforcement. Tensile testing of the repair constructs using ex vivo sheep tendons showed that the developed repair constructs fulfilled the required mechanical properties for tendon repair (i.e. minimal ultimate stress of 4 MPa), with an ultimate stress of 6.4 ± 0.6 MPa. Moreover, in vitro biological assays showed that the developed repair tubes and the incorporated bioactive components were non-cytotoxic. In addition, when equine tenocytes and mesenchymal stem cells were co-cultured with the repair tubes, an increased production of collagen and non-collagenous proteins was observed. In conclusion, this novel construct in which a mechanical approach (fulfilling the required mechanical properties) was combined with a biological approach (incorporation of bioactive compounds), shows potential as flexor tendon repair application.

Biodegradable Polymer Electrospinning for Tendon Repairment

“…Mechanical testing of isolated sheep tendons has shown that the minimum limiting stresses required for flexor tendon repair were fully met. The incorporation of anti-inflammatory and antiadhesive compounds has a minimal inflammatory response and adhesion to surrounding tissues to minimize scar tissue formation and improve the rate of collagenization [ 63 ]. An electrospinning tube, as a kind of product to wrap the injured part of tendon, has the application potential of preventing peritendinous adhesion and repairing.…”

Recent Progress in Fabrication of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Developing Physiological In Vitro Organ/Tissue Models

“…Pien et al fabricated a PCL NF tubular structure by electrospinning based on a columnar collector and cocultured tenocytes and MSCs on the tubular NFM for constructing a tendon construct. [144] To develop a thick tissue construct with an anisotropic structure, the stacking method has been adopted using aligned 2D NFMs. Kim et al fabricated a skin-muscle tissue construct by staking HUVECs, human foreskin dermal fibroblasts, and skeletal muscle (C2C12) cell layers, which were individually cultured on the aligned PCL NFMs (Figure 13b).…”

“…fabricated a PCL NF tubular structure by electrospinning based on a columnar collector and cocultured tenocytes and MSCs on the tubular NFM for constructing a tendon construct. [ 144 ]…”

Functional biomaterials for tendon/ligament repair and regeneration

“…The mechanical properties have been improved, but the tendon adhesions and inflammation problems still need further improvement, and for these two persistent problems, Pien et al . [ 121 ] offers a new idea. To fabricate tubular repair constructs, naproxen and hyaluronic acid (i.e.…”