A HYBRID SCAFFOLD OF POLY(LACTIDE-CO-GLYCOLIDE) SPONGE FILLED WITH FIBRIN GEL FOR CARTILAGE TISSUE ENGINEERING

The poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) sponge fabricated by a gelatin porogen leaching method was filled with fibrin gel to obtain a hybrid scaffold for chondrocytes culture in vitro. The fibrin gel evenly distributed in the hybrid scaffold with visible fibrinogen fibers after drying. In vitro culture it was found that in the hybrid scaffold the chondrocytes distributed more evenly and kept a round morphology as that in the normal cartilage. Although the chondrocytes seeded in the control PLGA sponges showed similar proliferation behavior with that in the hybrid scaffolds, they were remarkably elongated, forming a fibroblast-like morphology. Moreover, a larger amount of glycosaminoglycans was secreted in the hybrid scaffolds than that in the PLGA sponges after in vitro culture of chondrocytes for 4 weeks. The results suggest that the fibrin/PLGA hybrid scaffold may be favorably applied for cartilage tissue engineering.