Early development of a polycaprolactone electrospun augment for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2021-10, Vol.129, p.112414-112414, Article 112414
• Main Authors: Savić, Luka, Augustyniak, Edyta M., Kastensson, Adele, Snelling, Sarah, Abhari, Roxanna E., Baldwin, Mathew, Price, Andrew, Jackson, William, Carr, Andrew, Mouthuy, Pierre-Alexis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACL reconstruction; Anterior cruciate ligament; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Augmentation; Biological properties; Cell morphology; Cell number; Collagen; Cytology; Cytotoxicity; Electrospinning; Fabrics; Filaments; Graft rejection; Grafts; Humans; Knee; Ligaments; Materials science; Medical textiles; Microfibers; Morphology; Polycaprolactone; Polyesters; Reconstruction; Regeneration; Scanning electron microscopy; Soft tissues; Sutures; Tensile properties; Textiles; Tissue regeneration
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112414

Despite the clinical success of Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in some patients, unsatisfactory clinical outcomes secondary to graft failure are seen, indicating the need to develop new regeneration strategies. The use of degradable and bioactive textiles has the potential to improve the biological repair of soft tissue. Electrospun (ES) filaments are particularly promising as they have the ability to mimic the structure of natural tissues and influence endogenous cell behaviour. In this study, we produced continuous polycaprolactone (PCL) ES filaments using a previously described electrospinning collection method. These filaments were stretched, twisted, and assembled into woven structures. The morphological, tensile, and biological properties of the woven fabric were then assessed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images highlighted the aligned and ACL-like microfibre structure found in the stretched filaments. The tensile properties indicated that the ES fabric reached suitable strengths for a use as an ACLR augmentation device. Human ACL-derived cell cultured on the fabric showed approximately a 3-fold increase in cell number over 2 weeks and this was equivalent to a collagen coated synthetic suture commonly used in ACLR. Cells generally adopted a more elongated cell morphology on the ES fabric compared to the control suture, aligning themselves in the direction of the microfibres. A NRU assay confirmed that the ES fabric was non-cytotoxic according to regulatory standards. Overall, this study supports the development of ES textiles as augmentation devices for ACLR. •Robust PCL electrospun yarns can be produced with a wire collection method.•The yarns can be processed into a fabric using traditional textile technologies.•The fabrics reached suitable strengths for a use as an ACLR augmentation device.•The strength of the fabric is unmatched so far in current PCL electrospun devices.•The fabric supports the growth of primary human ACL cells and is non-cytotoxic.