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Thesis
Examining FiberGel in an in vitro model for potential use in cartilage repair
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000184
Abstract
Tissue engineering is a promising solution to articular cartilage repair. The scaffolds, an essential component for tissue-engineering, are required for simulating cartilage regeneration by mimicking the 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural cartilage. However, existing scaffolds often fails to effectively incorporate cells in 3D and lack the tunability of microstructures, such porosity, to regulate the cells' mechanosensing and subsequent cell bioactivities. To overcome this technological hurdle, FiberGel, a new type of scaffold made of a crosslinkable paste of microfibers, was created. Fabricated by a unique stretch-and-fold method, this new scaffold was capable of replicating the natural 3D framework of ECM and distributing cells evenly in 3D. Our previous study demonstrated that FiberGel was able to promote cartilage tissue formation, while varying the fiber size of FiberGel shown to have significant effects on chondrogenesis. In this study, I explored the potential of FiberGel for medical application by using a clinically relevant, in vitro model. The effect of implanting FiberGel scaffold into a cartilage defect was studied using plugs of living cartilages with subchondral bone, which were harvested from a horse. Horse mesenchymal stem cells were blended with FiberGels of two types of microfibers (subcellular-sized fiber and super cellular-sized fiber), implanted into defects created on the horse cartilage plugs, and incubated for long term cultured. After 42 days, both groups of different fiber size demonstrated dramatically increased integration to the host cartilage, with integration strength increasing from 0 up to 200 kPa. FiberGel made of subcellular-sized fibers were found to promote better integration. Both groups also demonstrated significant increased production of ECM components including collagens and glycosaminoglycan. Overall, the results indicated that FiberGel is highly promising for cartilage repair. This study also suggested that the performance of FiberGel scaffolds, particularly the scaffolds consisting of subcellular size fibers, can further enhance in vivo, in which body motions may further promote chondrogenesis.
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Details
- Title
- Examining FiberGel in an in vitro model for potential use in cartilage repair
- Creators
- Andrew H. K. Fok
- Contributors
- Li-Hsin Han (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- x, 59 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Engineering (1970-2026); Mechanical Engineering (and Mechanics) [Historical]; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991014695140504721