Designing Electrospun Scaffolds with Architectures Suitable for
Tendon Repair +1Bosworth, LA; 1Downes, S
+1School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester,
UK [email protected]
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing incidence of
patients suffering from chronic pain and spontaneous rupture of
tendons. Whilst current interventions are able to repair tendons,
e.g. suturing the two tendon ends together, their functionality is
often lost. We propose synthetic, degradable scaffolds with
purposefully designed architectures as an alternative,
‘off-the-shelf’ solution. In order to achieve this an understanding
of tendon structure is required. Tenocytes are the main cell type
in tendon and are responsible for the production of collagen Type I
fibres. These fibres are arranged into fascicles of increasing size
to create a highly organised, hierarchical tissue structure. The
objectives were to recreate this structural composition using
electrospinning and then assess the fabricated fibre scaffolds both
physically and for biocompatibility. METHODS: Poly(ε-caprolactone)
(PCL) (Mn 80,000; Sigma) dissolved in Acetone (Fisher Scientific)
(concentration 10%w/v) was electrospun using pre-determined
parameters: voltage - 20kV, flow rate – 0.05ml/min, distance to
collector – 15cm. Fibres were collected on a fine-edged (width 3mm)
rotating mandrel, 50RPM for 2D-random fibres or 500RPM for
2D-aligned fibres. 3D-scaffolds were developed by manually twisting
aligned fibres (length 30mm) at either end. The three fibre
matrices were visually assessed by Scanning Electron Microscopy
(SEM) and tensile properties determined by loading to failure using
an Instron 2211 with 5N load cell and 5mm/min crosshead speed.
Tenocytes sourced from adult equine superficial digital flexor
tendons (seeding density 50,000cm-2) were cultured on each scaffold
type up to 14 days. Cell morphology and their interaction with the
scaffold was assessed by SEM. A purpose-made defect was created in
the Achilles tendon of a mouse. A single 3D-scaffold (Ø~150µm;
length 3mm) was implanted into the defect. The scaffold was held in
place by single knot sutures at the proximal and distal ends.
Assessment of the graft in situ was determined using variable
pressure-SEM immediately post-implantation and after 21 days.
RESULTS SECTION: Tensile properties were most significant for
3D-scaffolds, followed by 2D-aligned fibres and weakest tensile
properties were obtained for 2D-random fibres (Table 1).
Orientation of PCL fibres affected cell alignment (Fig.1). Random
fibres demonstrated no orientation compared to aligned and
3D-scaffold, which resulted in cells lying parallel to the fibre
axis. Assessment in vivo demonstrated a good interface between the
tendon tissue and 3D-scaffold (Fig.2a). After 21 days, the scaffold
had been fully integrated within the tendon (Fig.2b). Table 1 –
Tensile properties of electrospun PCL fibre scaffolds
Electrospun PCL Structure
Modulus (MPa) Tensile Strength (MPa)
2D random fibre orientation
1.54 (±0.26)
0.45 (±0.09)
2D aligned fibre orientation
4.84 (±0.13)
1.30 (±0.14)
3D fibre scaffold 14.11 (±3.76)
4.74 (±1.64)
Figure 1 – SEM micrographs of tenocytes cultured on PCL fibres
(5 days) with orientation (a) 2D-random, (b) 2D-aligned and (c)
3D-scaffold
Figure 2 – VP-SEM micrograph of 3D-scaffold in situ immediately
after implantation (a) and after 21 days (b). Arrow indicates
likely position of integrated 3D-scaffold. DISCUSSION: As a method,
electrospinning enables the control of fibre diameter and fibre
orientation, which is ideal for mimicking highly fibrous, organised
tissues, such as tendons. 3D-scaffolds yielded greatest tensile
properties for this polymer/solvent combination (PCL/Acetone) and
individual nanofibres conferred contact guidance to the cells. The
3D-scaffolds were proven to be biocompatible in vivo and were well
positioned with good interfacial response in situ. After 21 days
implantation, the scaffold was located by one of the suture knots
as the scaffold had been fully integrated into the tendon due to
new tissue formation. SIGNIFICANCE: This research highlights the
importance of scaffold design and fabrication in order to create
structures that mimic the tissues they are intended to replace,
such as tendons. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Authors would like to thank
the EPSRC and UMIP Premier Fund.
A B
C
3D Scaffold
Tendon
Tendon
3D Scaffold
A
B
Poster No. 0647 • ORS 2012 Annual Meeting
Main MenuSearchProgramAuthor IndexKeyword IndexCopyrightSession
Number 001: Stem Cells and ProgenitorsSession Number 002: Tendon
and Ligament: Biology & DevelopmentSession Number 003:
Molecular Influences on Cartilage BiomechanicsSession Number 004:
Inflammation in Osteoarthritis and Immune-Medicated
ArthritisSession Number 005: Cell and Molecular Biomechanics:
OsteocytesSession Number 006: Intervertebral Disc: Stem Cells &
Cell LineSession Number 007: Tendon and Ligament:
RegenerationSession Number 008: Cell and Molecular Biomechanics:
Physical EffectsSession Number 009: Experimental Osteoarthritis
Models: Lubrication and PainSession Number 010: Fracture Healing -
QualitySpotlight Session 011: SpineSpotlight Session 012: ACL
ReconstructionSpotlight Session 013: Non-Coding RNA and
Posttranscriptional Regulation in OASpotlight Session 014: Tissue
Reactions to WearSpotlight Session 015: OsteoporosisSession Number
016: Intervertebral DiscSession Number 017: ACL Injury
MechanicsSession Number 018: Cartilage and Meniscus RepairSession
Number 019: Cell SignalingSession Number 020: Bone - AgingSession
Number 021: Bone and Spine BiomechanicsSession Number 022: Tendon
BiomechanicsSession Number 023: Bone MechanicsSession Number 024:
Cartilage Degradation Biomarkers and ImagingSession Number 025:
Fracture Healing ModulationSpotlight Session 026: Current Trends in
Joint ReplacementSpotlight Session 027: Tendon and Ligament:
Translational ResearchSpotlight Session 028: microRNASpotlight
Session 029: Regenerative Approaches for OsteoarthritisSpotlight
Session 030: Muscle/BoneSession Number 031: Hip and
Femoroacetabular ImpingementSession Number 032: Knee and Hip Finite
Element ModalitySession Number 033: The Post-Traumatic Joint
Experimental ModelsSession Number 034: Muscle and NerveSession
Number 035: Tissue Engineering I: Cartilage and BoneSession Number
036: Biomaterials Stem Cells and Growth FactorsSession Number 037:
MeniscusSession Number 038: Osteolysis and Implant FixationSession
Number 039: Tissue Engineering II: TendonSession Number 040:
Polymeric and Nano-BiomaterialsSession Number 041: Foot and
AnkleSession Number 042: Growth Factors and Bone FixationSession
Number 043: Knee, ACL, Patello-Femoral JointSession Number 044:
Tumors and DiseasesSession Number 045: Orthopaedic InfectionSession
Number 046: Cartilage MechanicsSession Number 047: ShoulderSession
Number 048: SpineSession Number 049: New Polyethylene Implant
WearSession Number 050: Knee ArthroplastyNIRA 1: Cartilage and
SpineNIRA 2: Soft TissueNIRA 3: Cartilage Biology and
OsteoarthritisNIRA 4: Fracture RepairNIRA 5: BonePS1 Bone
MechanicsPS1 Skeletal Growth and Development - Developmenal
BiologyPS1 Cell and Molecular Biomechanics - Physical Effects on
CellsPS1 Bone FracturePS1 Fracture FixationPS1 ImagingPS1
Cancer/TumorsPS1 Bone BiologyPS1 Bone - Growth FactorsPS1 Bone -
Osteoporosis & Metabolic Bone DiseasePS1 Progenitors & Stem
CellsPS1 Biomaterials - BioactivePS1 Tissue Engineering - Soft
TissuePS1 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Genetics/GenomicsPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage & Matrix ProteinsPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage Matrix DegradationPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - CytokinesPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Growth Factors & AgingPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage RepairPS1
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage Repair - Cell Based
ApproachesPS1 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - MeniscusPS1 Cell &
Molecular Imaging of CartilagePS1 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium -
OsteoarthritisPS1 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage
MechanicsPS1 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - MechanobiologyPS1
Disease Process Knee - Joint MechanicsPS1 Disease Process HipPS1
Gait & KinematicsPS1 Foot & AnklePS1 Infection &
InflammationPS1 TraumaPS1 Total Hip Replacement - GeneralPS1 Total
Knee Replacement - General/WearPS1 Arthroplasty - Osteolysis Wear
DebrisPS1 Arthroplasty - Implant FixationPS1 Total Knee Replacement
- KinematicsPS1 Arthroplasty - Finite Element Analysis/HipPS1
Polyethylene Wear - UHMWPEPS1 Arthroplasty - Finite Element
Analysis - KneePS1 Total Hip Replacement - ImplantPS1 Implant -
Uni-Knee ReplacementPS1 Hip/Knee Arthroplasty - Surgical Navigation
& RoboticsPS1 Implant Wear - Vitamin E PolyethylenePS1 Implant
Wear - Metal on Metal & Ceramic BearingsPS1 SpinePS1 Spine
BiomechanicsPS1 Spine - Intervertebral Disc BiomechanicsPS1 Spine -
Intervertebral Disc BiologyPS1 Spinal TherapeuticsPS1 Upper
Extremity - Shoulder & ElbowPS1 Upper Extremity - Hand &
WristPS1 Muscle/NervePS1 Ligament & Tendon MechanicsPS1
Ligament & Tendon BiologyPS2 Bone MechanicsPS2 PublicationsPS2
Cell & Molecular Biomechanics - Physical Effects on CellsPS2
Bone FracturePS2 Fracture FixationPS2 ImagingPS2 Cancer/TumorsPS2
Bone BiologyPS2 Bone - Growth FactorsPS2 Bone - OsteoporosisPS2
Progenitors and Stem CellsPS2 Biomaterials - BioactivePS2 Tissue
Engineering - Soft TissuePS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Gene
TherapyPS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage & Matrix
ProteinsPS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Immune-Mediated
ArthritisPS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage Matrix
DegradationPS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - CytokinesPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Growth Factors & AgingPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage RepairPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage Repair - Cell-Based
ApproachesPS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - MeniscusPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cell and Molecular Imaging of
CartilagePS2 Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - OsteoarthritisPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - Cartilage MechanicsPS2
Cartilage/Meniscus/Synovium - MechanobiologyPS2 Disease Process
Knee - Joint MechanicsPS2 Disease Process HipPS2 Gait and
Kinematics, KinesiologyPS2 Foot and AnklePS2 Infection and
InflammationPS2 Total Hip Replacement - Resurfacing and Metal on
MetalPS2 Total Knee Reconstruction - General/WearPS2 Arthroplasty -
Osteolysis Wear DebrisPS2 Arthroplasty - Implant FixationPS2 Total
Knee Replacement - KinematicsPS2 Arthroplasty - Finite Element
Analysis - HipPS2 Polyethylene Wear - UHMWPEPS2 Arthroplasty -
Finite Element Anlysis KneePS2 Total Hip Replacement ImplantPS2
Implant - Uni-Knee ReplacementPS2 Arthroplasty Hip & Knee -
Surgical Navigation and RoboticsPS2 Implant Wear - Vitamin E
PolyethylenePS2 Implant Wear - Metal on Metal and Ceramic
BearingsPS2 SpinePS2 Spine BiomechanicsPS2 Spine - Intervertebral
Disc BiomechanicsPS2 Spine - Intervertebral Disc BiologyPS2 Spine -
Spinal TherapeuticsPS2 Upper Extremity - Shoulder and ElbowPS2
Upper Extremity - Hand and WristPS2 MusclePS2 Ligament and Tendon
MechanicsPS2 Ligament and Tendon Biology
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