Design and fabrication of biomimetic four-region drug-loaded cartilage scaffolds with porous hollow fibers

Abstract

Articular cartilage, which plays a vital role in joint structure, is susceptible to damage from trauma and degenerative joint diseases. Traditional methods for cartilage treatment often involve complex surgical procedures with limited efficacy. Alternatively, implantable drug-loaded scaffolds are an increasingly attractive cartilage treatment option. To address the challenges of structural and functional compatibility between scaffolds and native cartilage, as well as issues related to drug loading, we design a novel cartilage scaffold with a four-region hollow porous fiber network structure. Using an extrusion-based 3D printing platform, a biphasic silicone ink composed primarily of liquid-phase silicone and solid particles was employed to construct the hollow porous fiber network. Mechanical compression tests demonstrate that the cartilage scaffold has mechanical characteristics similar to those of native cartilage tissue, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry measurements confirm its ability to control drug release. These results showcase the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed cartilage substitute structure.