Dynamic Fibrous Scaffolds for Repairing Dense Connective Tissues

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Abstract Fibrous tissues of the musculoskeletal system (e.g., the knee meniscus) are plagued by their poor intrinsic healing capacity. In the previous funding cycles, we developed enabling technologies including multi-fiber scaffolds to introduce various temporal and structural signals towards the repair of meniscal tissue. We used these scaffolds to engineer constructs with properties and organization similar to native tissues (1st cycle) and then developed scaffolds to enhance endogenous tissue repair through the delivery of factors to recruit local cells (2nd cycle). The overall objective of this renewal is to further improve endogenous meniscus repair with engineered scaffolds through the appropriate temporal and spatial orchestration of factor delivery, to first (i) soften nuclei in cells (via a temporary reduction in heterochromatin content) near the injury site and then (ii) recruit and stabilize the phenotype of these cells within the repair scaffolds. We hypothesize that the delivery of these factors will permit recruitment of viable endogenous cells from the meniscus to the scaffolds and that the spatial control of these factors will improve scaffold colonization, even with thick scaffolds. We will employ composite scaffolds (developed during the previous funding cycles) that provide a stable fiber fraction (polycaprolactone (PCL), to provide an instructional pattern and mechanical stability), a sacrificial fiber fraction (polyethylene oxide (PEO), to define initial scaffold porosity and provide early release of factors into the environment), and an engineered hyaluronic acid (HA) fiber fraction (that degrades over weeks and releases factors in a sustained fashion). To address our hypotheses, the first Aim will utilize in vitro microfluidic- platforms to investigate the timing and dosing of nuclear-softening (Trichostatin A), chemotactic (platelet- derived growth factor), and fibro-chondrogenic factors (transforming growth factor-β3) to alter nuclear mechanics, cell recruitment, and promote resumption of the cellular phenotype of cells migrating into fibrous scaffolds from meniscal tissue. In the second Aim, we will control release from either the entire scaffold (as before) or from an internal layer (newly proposed) across a variety of scaffold thicknesses and release rates to promote population of thick scaffolds. This Aim will be conducted using our recently developed subcutaneous model of meniscus tissue repair. In the third Aim, scaffolds will be implanted into meniscal defects in Yucatan minipigs to evaluate their efficacy in a clinically relevant defect model. If successful, these studies and technologies will advance our understanding of the use of engineered scaffolds for endogenous meniscus repair and provide a step towards clinical translation.