PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Cellulose-Based Scaffolds: A Comparative Study for Potential Application in Articular Cartilage

Polymers, ISSN: 2073-4360, Vol: 15, Issue: 3
2023
  • 4
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 15
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

Article Description

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that leads to cartilage loss. Tissue engineering, involving scaffolds, cells, and stimuli, has shown to be a promising strategy for its repair. Thus, this study aims to manufacture and characterise different scaffolds with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with commercial cellulose (microcrystalline (McC) and methyl cellulose (MC) or cellulose from agro-industrial residues (corncob (CcC)) and at different percentages, 1%, 2%, and 3%. PCL scaffolds were used as a control. Morphologically, the produced scaffolds presented porosities within the desired for cell incorporation (57% to 65%). When submitted to mechanical tests, the incorporation of cellulose affects the compression resistance of the majority of scaffolds. Regarding tensile strength, McC2% showed the highest values. It was proven that all manufactured scaffolds suffered degradation after 7 days of testing because of enzymatic reactions. This degradation may be due to the dissolution of PCL in the organic solvent. Biological tests revealed that PCL, CcC1%, and McC3% are the best materials to combine with human dental pulp stem/stromal cells. Overall, results suggest that cellulose incorporation in PCL scaffolds promotes cellular adhesion/proliferation. Methyl cellulose scaffolds demonstrated some advantageous compressive properties (closer to native cartilaginous tissue) to proceed to further studies for application in cartilage repair.

Bibliographic Details

Cordeiro, Rachel; Alvites, Rui D; Sousa, Ana C; Lopes, Bruna; Sousa, Patrícia; Maurício, Ana C; Alves, Nuno; Moura, Carla

MDPI AG

Chemistry; Materials Science

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know