Electrospinning/Electrospray
Mechanical Properties and Cellular Proliferation of Electrospun Collagen Type II
Mechanical Properties and Cellular Proliferation of Electrospun Collagen Type II
Kelly J. Shields, M.S.
Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Orthopedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Matthew J. Beckman, Ph.D.Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Orthopedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Gary L. Bowlin, Ph.D.Tissue and Cellular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Jennifer S. Wayne, Ph.D.Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Orthopedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
A suitable technique for articular cartilage repair and replacement is necessitated by inadequacies of current methods. Electrospinning has potential in cartilage repair by producing scaffolds with fiber diameters in the range of native extracellular matrix. Chondrocytes seeded onto such scaffolds may prefer this environment for differentiation and proliferation, thus approaching functional cartilage replacement tissue. Scaffolds of collagen type II were created by an electrospinning technique. Individual scaffold specimens were prepared and evaluated as uncross-linked, cross-linked, or crosslinked/ seeded. Uncross-linked scaffolds contained a minimum and average fiber diameter of 70 and 496 nm, respectively, whereas cross-linked scaffolds possessed diameters of 140 nm and 1.46