Invention Summary:

The nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel scaffold is an innovative scaffold for the repair of focal cartilage defects in the articular region. It can be used as an augmentation of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) by providing a vehicle for injection of the cell-laden scaffold into the defect. Compared with ACI, the nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel scaffold should offer higher success rates due to the three-dimensional scaffold’shigh surface area, whichencourages better cellular attachment and proliferation. Additionally, the system offers protection against the environmental stresses that would otherwise damage the growing tissue. Due to the nature of the hydrogel, the system can be injected into any shaped defect, thus avoiding further damaging the surrounding tissue. Though the system is in liquid form outside the body, once injected into the defect, the system can be gelled with harmless calcium ion solutions.

The system is a novel combination of polymeric tubular scaffolds with hydrogels. The hydrogel allows superior exchange of waste and nutrients while giving the fragile and shapeless nanofiber a solid shape. Both materials used are biodegradable and cause minimal inflammation. With the inclusion of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, cellular attachment , collagen type II and glycosaminoglycan secretion can be increased, thus forming functional tissue, while the polymeric nanofibers offer high surface area for attachment while mimicking the extracellular matrix of native cartilage.

It involves innovative manufacturing processes that combine nanofiber technology to best mimic the extracellular matrix with a method of injecting for minimally invasive techniques, thus reducing trauma and overall healing time. The system combines biodegradable polymeric materials such as polycaprolactone, a commonly used implantable material that is already FDA approved for multiple uses.

Market Applications: 

•Focal cartilage regeneration

•Augmentation of autologous chondrocyte implantation

•Soft tissue regeneration

Advantages:

•Biodegradable

•Minimally invasive

•Injectable

•Easy to use

Stage of Development or Future Work: Provisional Filed / In vitro stages

Keywords: Cartilage Regeneration, tissue regeneration, cartilage repair