| 초록 |
Delivering chondrocytes with matrix is one of the promising approaches to repair the damaged cartilage. This study attempted to combine the advantages of porous scaffold and hydrogel in delivering cells to partial-thickness cartilage defects. An electrospun PLCL scaffold, mechanically similar to natural cartilage, was fabricated and chondrocytes were seeded using a heparin hydrogel for efficient cell seeding. The scaffold/hydrogel composite showed more enhanced chondrogenic functions than those prepared without hydrogel. In addition, significant cartilage formation showing good integration with surrounding was observed by scaffold/hydrogel composite system in partial-thickness defects of rabbit knees while no regeneration was observed in control defects. Therefore, scaffold/hydrogel composite system could be an excellent delivery matrix for cartilage regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. This work was supported by NRF, MEST, and by WCU program at GIST, MEST, Korea. |
