The application of type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate grafted PCL porous scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract This study investigates a poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐ graft ‐type II collagen‐ graft ‐chondroitin sulfate (PCL‐ g ‐COL‐ g ‐CS) biomaterial as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Biodegradable polyester, PCL, was utilized to fabricate three‐dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds by particulate leaching. The PCL scaffold was then surface modified by chemical bonding of 1,6‐hexanediamine and the grafting of a bioactive polymer layer of COL and CS with the help of 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethyl‐ aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)/ N ‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) on the modified PCL surface to produce PCL‐ g ‐COL and PCL‐ g ‐COL‐ g ‐CS, respectively. The characteristics of these modified and grafted matrices were examined by ESCA, aminolysis, collagen and CS assay, porosity and water‐binding capacity. Grafted COL and CS markedly increased water‐binding capacity, and promoted the spreading and growth of chondrocytes. During a 4‐week culture period, PCL‐ g ‐COL and PCL‐ g ‐COL‐ g ‐CS matrices both provided more cell proliferation, as determined by measuring the DNA assay. Additionally, a larger amount of secreted collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) appeared in the PCL‐ g ‐COL‐ g ‐CS matrices than in the control (PCL) as indicated by the histochemical sections via Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain, Masson trichrome stain and Safranin‐O stain. The chondrocytes were induced to function normally; the cell phenotype was maintained, and the GAGs and collagen in the PCL‐ g ‐COL‐ g ‐CS scaffold were secreted in vitro . These results serve as a basis for future studies of the fabrication process and reveal the potential biocompatibility of the biomimetic matrix for regenerating articular cartilage or other organs. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010