Type I collagen and polyvinyl alcohol blend fiber scaffold for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The aim of this study was to perform an evaluation of a braided fiber scaffold for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The scaffold was composed of 50% type I collagen (Col-I) and 50% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). First, the biocompatibility and in vitro weight loss of the scaffold were tested. Then, the scaffolds were used to reconstruct the ACL in China Bama mimi pigs. At 24 weeks post-operation, the mechanical properties and histology of the regenerated ACL were analyzed. The maximum load and tensile strength were 472.43 +/- 15.2 N and 29.71 +/- 0.96 MPa, respectively; both were similar to 75% of those of native ACL and similar to 90% of those of fiber scaffold. This indicated that the scaffold maintained a large portion of native ACL's mechanical properties, and tissue formation on the scaffold compensated most of the tensile strength loss caused by scaffold degradation. Histology and immunohistology analysis showed the morphology and major extracellular matrix components of the regenerated ligament resembled the native ACL. Thus, the Col-I/PVA blend fiber ACL scaffold showed good potential for clinical applications.