Characterizations of chondrocyte attachment and proliferation on electrospun biodegradable scaffolds of PLLA and PBSA for use in cartilage tissue engineering

The influence of physical characteristics of electrospun three-dimensional (3D) fibrous scaffolds based on polybutylene succinate-co-adipate (PBSA) and poly l-lactic acid (PLLA) on the culture of primary human chondrocytes (PHCs) in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, and re-differentiation was investigated. Physical characteristics assessed for two polymers electrospun at two different delivery rates (PBSA-3, PBSA-16, PLLA-3, and PLLA-16) including average fiber diameter, average pore diameter, porosity, and contact angle. Results demonstrated that 3D fibrous scaffolds are better for PHCs' attachment than two-dimensional (2D) casting films made of the same polymeric materials. It was also found that 3D fibrous scaffolds are appropriate architecture for the proliferation of PHCs than 2D casting films and dependent upon the polymer used. Histological analysis revealed that a significant amount of PHC was found to be growing only within layers of PLLA fibrous scaffolds. The mitochondrial ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of both aggrecan and type II collagen by PHCs cultured in tissue culture polystyrene for 28 days decreased significantly. The mRNA expression of both aggrecan and type II collagen by PHCs cultured in PBSA scaffolds increased from 14 to 28 days, whereas only mRNA expression of aggrecan cultured in both PLLA scaffolds increased from 14 to 28 days.