Functional Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Articular Cartilage Repair

描述（由申请人提供）：SBIR I期提案旨在研究开发一类独特的定向软骨细胞/聚（乙醇酸-co-己内酯）（PGA-co-PCL）纳米纤维支架结构用于关节软骨修复的可行性。我们对设计和评估这种独特的组织再生系统的假设是基于本实验室和其他实验室最近的几项发现。(1)电纺丝纳米纤维聚己内酯（PCL）基生物可降解支架适用于软骨细胞的维持。(2)由Stonybrook Technology and Applied Research (STAR), Inc.开发的独特的纳米纤维制造方法，即多射流静电纺丝和电吹工艺，是理想的工业规模制造高多孔3D无纺布支架，适用于生物医学应用。(3)多射流静电纺丝/静电吹丝形式与同轴纺丝能力相结合，可以在低温和水环境中加工精细的生物活性材料，在这种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静电纺支架的力学稳定性、各向异性和孔隙率。我们建议将上述技术合理结合，即具有规定降解率、机械稳定性、孔隙度、各向异性和生长因子（即成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF-2）和转化生长因子- 1 (TGF- 1)）控释能力的三维纳米纤维生物可降解支架，将为制备一类用于关节软骨修复的新型软骨细胞递送支架提供有力途径。公共卫生相关性：提出了一类独特的软骨细胞/聚（乙醇酸-co-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，具有规定的降解率、机械稳定性、孔隙度、各向异性和生长因子（即成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF-2）和转化生长因子-¿1 (TGF-¿1)）的控释能力。

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)).