Extraction of Type Ⅱ Collagen and Electrospinning Nano-Fibrous Three-Dimensional Scaffolds

摘要

Articular cartilage lining joints functions to reduce friction and absorb shock. Collagen type Ⅱ is the largest constituent in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. Restoration of articular cartilage is of the highest interest to tissue engineers because this material has little ability to naturally regenerate due to the absence of vascularity and the inability of the chondrocytes to proliferate at a high rate. It would be ideal to create a mimicking extracellular matrix/scaffold from type Ⅱ collagen that could possibly be used to replace the damaged articular cartilage that has both the function and morphology of natural articular cartilage. In this feasibility study, articular cartilage chips from three different vendors were utilized. The three groups are as follows: articular cartilage from fetal calf leg joints (Dr. David Brand), manually shaved clear hyaline cartilage chips from the surface of patellas from 140-180 day old calves (Spear Products), and pre-cut cartilage chunks that were more bluntly/deeply cut (leaving blood vessels and bone marrow fragments) from the patellas of 140-180 day old calves were utilized (Lampire Biological Laboratories, Inc.). The end product of collagen type Ⅱ was then electrospun at concentrations of 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, and 0.12 g/mL and both fiber diameter and pore size were analyzed.