Damage to articular cartilage can over time cause degeneration to the tissue surrounding the injury. To address this problem, scaffolds that prevent degeneration and promote neotissue growth are needed. We introduce a new hybrid scaffold that combines a stereolithography-based three-dimensional printed support structure with an injectable and photopolymerizable hydrogel for delivering cells to treat focal chondral defects. In this proof of concept study, we demonstrate the ability to a) infill the support structure with an injectable hydrogel precursor solution, b) incorporate cartilage cells during infilling using a degradable hydrogel that promotes neotissue deposition, and c) minimize damage to the surrounding cartilage when the hybrid scaffold is placed in situ in a focal chondral defect in an osteochondral plug that is cultured under mechanical loading. With the ability to independently control the properties of the structure and the injectable hydrogel, this hybrid scaffold approach holds promise for treating chondral defects.
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