Functional Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Articular Cartilage Repair

描述(由申请人提供)：SBIR第一阶段计划旨在研究开发一种独特的定向软骨细胞/聚(乙交酯-己内酯)(PGA-co-PCL)纳米纤维支架构建物用于关节软骨修复的可行性。我们对这种独特的组织再生系统的设计和评估的假设是基于这个实验室和其他实验室最近的几个发现。(1)电纺纳米纤维聚己内酯(PCL)生物可降解支架适用于软骨细胞的维护。(2)斯坦布鲁克技术公司和应用研究(STAR)公司开发的独特的纳米纤维制备方法，即多喷嘴电纺和电吹工艺，是适合于生物医学应用的工业规模制备高孔3D非织造支架的理想方法。(3)多喷嘴电纺/电吹结合同轴纺丝能力，可以在低温和水环境中加工精致的生物活性材料，在水环境中可以加入生长因子，而不必担心热分解。(4)通过机械拉伸的后处理方法可以控制电纺支架的力学稳定性、各向异性和孔隙率。我们认为，上述技术的合理结合，即具有规定的降解率、力学稳定性、孔隙率、各向异性和生长因子(成纤维细胞生长因子2和转化生长因子1)可控释放能力的三维纳米纤维生物可降解支架，将为制备新型软骨细胞输送支架提供一条有效的途径。公共卫生研究进展：提出了一种独特的软骨细胞/聚(乙交酯-己内酯)(PGA-co-PCL)纳米纤维支架结构，用于关节软骨修复。这些结构由三维可生物降解的纳米纤维支架组成，这些支架具有规定的降解率、机械稳定性、孔隙率、各向异性和生长因子(即成纤维细胞生长因子2和转化生长因子1)的控制释放能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The SBIR Phase I proposal aims to investigate the feasibility of developing a unique class of directed chondrocyte/poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGA-co-PCL) nanofibrous scaffold constructs for articular cartilage repair. Our hypothesis for the design and evaluation of this unique tissue regeneration system is based on several recent findings made in this and other laboratories. (1) Electrospun nanofibrous polycaprolactone (PCL)-based biodegradable scaffolds are suitable for maintenance of chondrocytes. (2) The unique nanofiber fabrication methods, i.e., multiple-jet electrospinning and electroblowing processes, developed by Stonybrook Technology and Applied Research (STAR), Inc., is ideal to fabricate highly porous 3D non-woven scaffolds on an industrial scale suitable for biomedical applications. (3) The multiple-jet electrospinning/electroblowing format in combination with coaxial spinning capability can allow the processing of delicate bioactive materials at low temperatures and in an aqueous environment, where growth factors can be incorporated without fear of thermal decomposition. (4) Post-processing approaches by mechanical stretching can be used to control the mechanical stability, anisotropy and the porosity of electrospun scaffolds. We propose that a judicious combination of the above technologies, i.e., 3D nanofibrous biodegradable scaffolds with prescribed degradation rate, mechanical stability, porosity, anisotropy and controlled-release capability of growth factors (i.e., fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor-¿1 (TGF-¿1)) will offer a powerful pathway to prepare a new class of chondrocyte delivery scaffolds for repair of articular cartilage. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVENCE: A unique class of chondrocyte/poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGA-co-PCL) nanofibrous scaffold constructs for articular cartilage repair is proposed. These constructs consist of three-dimensional biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds with prescribed degradation rate, mechanical stability, porosity, anisotropy and controlled release capability of growth factors (i.e., fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor-¿1 (TGF-¿1)).