Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting synovial joints such as the knee that leads to structural changes in the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone. The current gold standard of care for severely impaired joints is total joint replacement, in which a metal or polymer prosthesis replaces the damaged joint entirely. Even though the process is well-established, there are drawbacks, like implant loosening and a 15-year lifespan that requires invasive revision surgery if the initial implant fails. Cartilage tissue engineering has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative method to replace damaged tissue that could provide long-term benefits over current treatment methods. However, having scaffolds that could provide a well-rounded functionality for cartilage tissue engineering has been an unmet challenge in the literature. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop scaffolds with biomechanical properties similar to native cartilage and evaluate their cartilage regenerative potential through in vitro studies. This thesis set out to investigate the following objectives: 1) developing 3D-printed biomechanically comparable scaffolds and assessing their degradation characteristics in vitro; 2) In vitro assessment of the chondrogenic capacity of composite constructs fabricated by reinforcing hydrogels with the 3D-printed scaffolds; 3) evaluating cell culture factors contributing to chondrogenesis of the composite constructs. In conclusion, this thesis proposes a biomechanically comparable porous scaffold fabricated from 3D printing PLLGA 85:15 as a functional solution for cartilage tissue engineering. The scaffold degrades within the cartilage regeneration timeframe, promotes chondrogenesis by reinforcing a hydrogel, and maintains cell viability. It is anticipated that the novel characteristics of PLLGA 85:15 can be used as a potential medical device in the future to treat articular cartilage defects and stop the progression of osteoarthritis.
| Date of Award | Dec 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | - Queen's University Belfast
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| Sponsors | Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council |
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| Supervisor | Fraser Buchanan (Supervisor), Susan Clarke (Supervisor) & Krishnagoud Manda (Supervisor) |
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- cartilage tissue engineering
- scaffold
- bioresorbable polymers
- PLLGA
- 3D printing
3D-printed bioresorbable scaffolds for regeneration of articular cartilage
Ghosh Dastidar, A. (Author). Dec 2024
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy