The Reparative Ability of the Aligned Decellularized Annulus Fibrosus Matrix/Poly(Ether Carbonate Urethane)Urea Blended Fibrous Scaffolds on Annulus Fibrosus Defects

Abstract

Currently, there is a lack of effective methods to repair annulus fibrosus (AF) defects in clinical practice. Therefore, exploring strategies to promote AF regeneration is of significant importance for delaying intervertebral disc degeneration. In recent years, tissue engineering technology has become a hotspot in the field of AF repair, offering promising treatments for intervertebral disc degenerative diseases. Studies have shown that surface structural characteristics, such as the fiber orientation of scaffold materials, play a crucial role in regulating the differentiation of cells adhering to the scaffold surface. Here we used electrospinning technology to prepare aligned and random decellularized annulus fibrosus matrix (DAFM)/poly(ether carbonate urethane)urea (PECUU) blended fibrous scaffolds. Rat AF stem cells (AFSCs) cultured on the aligned DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds exhibited an aligned distribution, and the secreted AF-associated extracellular matrix components, including Collagen type I, Collagen type II, and Aggrecan, were also aligned. In contrast, AFSCs on the random DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds exhibited an irregular distribution, and the secreted AF-associated extracellular matrix components were also irregularly distributed. Moreover, AFSCs on the aligned DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds expressed higher levels of Col-I and Aggrecan than those on the random DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffold. Both aligned and random DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds degraded slowly in vivo. Magnetic resonance imaging, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Safranin O-fast green staining, and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that both aligned and random DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds effectively repaired AF defects in rats in vivo. However, the aligned DAFM/PECUU blended fibrous scaffolds exhibited superior repair capability.