Fabricating PLGA sponge scaffold integrated with gelatin/hyaluronic acid for engineering cartilage

The aim of present study is to characterize the physical properties of the PLGA-gelatin/HA composite scaffold and its ability for chondrocytes' attachment for cartilage tissue engineering applications. The 3D porous PLGA scaffold was fabricated by salt leaching method, and surface was integrated with gelatin and hyaluronic acid by crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide EDC solution. Water uptake ratio and element analysis were evaluated characterization of each scaffold. Porcine chondrocytes counting were used to calculate cell's attachment ratio on PLGA scaffold and PLGA-gelatin/HA scaffold post culturing at 4h and 24h, respectively. The results indicated that the attachment ratio of chondrocytes on PLGA-gelatin/HA scaffold is higher than on PLGA scaffold only. Furthermore, PLGA scaffold integrated with gelatin and HA not only increases the cell attachment, but also leads easy water and nutrient exchange into the scaffold. It may demonstrate that chondrocytes have better biocompatibility with PLGA-gelatin/HA scaffold for potential engineering cartilage.