Finite Element Analysis of Meniscal Anatomical 3D Scaffolds: Implications for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Solid Free-Form Fabrication (SFF) technologies allow the fabrication of anatomical 3D scaffolds from computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patients' dataset. These structures can be designed and fabricated with a variable, interconnected and accessible porous network, resulting in modulable mechanical properties, permeability, and architecture that can be tailored to mimic a specific tissue to replace or regenerate. In this study, we evaluated whether anatomical meniscal 3D scaffolds with matching mechanical properties and architecture are beneficial for meniscus replacement as compared to meniscectomy. After acquiring CT and MRI of porcine menisci, 3D fiber-deposited (3DF) scaffolds were fabricated with different architectures by varying the deposition pattern of the fibers comprising the final structure. The mechanical behaviour of 3DF scaffolds with different architectures and of porcine menisci was measured by static and dynamic mechanical analysis and the effect of these tissue engineering templates on articular cartilage was assessed by finite element analysis (FEA) and compared to healthy conditions or to meniscectomy. Results show that 3DF anatomical menisci scaffolds can be fabricated with pore different architectures and with mechanical properties matching those of natural menisci. FEA predicted a beneficial effect of meniscus replacement with 3D scaffolds in different mechanical loading conditions as compared to meniscectomy. No influence of the internal scaffold architecture was found on articular cartilage damage. Although FEA predictions should be further confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments, this study highlights meniscus replacement by SFF anatomical scaffolds as a potential alternative to meniscectomy.

High throughput computational evaluation of how scaffold architecture, material selection, and loading modality influence the cellular micromechanical environment in tissue engineering strategies

“…A ubiquitous strategy within the TE community is to fabricate composite constructs consisting of a biodegradable scaffold with a cell‐laden matrix. Such TE scaffolds have been engineered to replicate specific tissue‐level material properties of various musculoskeletal tissues, 29–31 including AF 32,33 . However, these scaffolds do not necessarily ensure that the mechanical loads induced at the cellular level are sufficient to drive cell survival, proliferation, and ECM formation.…”

“…Cell fates in orthopedic tissues under mechanical loading have been modeled with FE in intervertebral disc 9,37 and bone fracture healing 38 applications. The tissue‐level mechanics of TE scaffolds have also been studied using FE methods 29–31,36 and some of these models have been developed to predict mechano‐regulation of musculoskeletal regeneration 39–41 . However, there remains a need for a CME model that can: (a) be applied to all of the available volume that cells can occupy in heterogeneous TE scaffolds; (b) be applied parametrically to numerous candidate TE scaffold designs; (c) be broadly applied to a range of proposed target mechanics; and (d) be easily compared to in vitro cell cultures for validation.…”