Preliminary development of a novel resorbable synthetic polymer fiber scaffold for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

We are developing novel resorbable fiber-based scaffolds for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). For the first time, we report fabrication of fibers from poly(DTE carbonate) polymer. Poly(L-lactic acid) fibers were also fabricated for comparison purposes. The study was performed in three phases. In phase 1, first-generation fibers were found to promote tissue ingrowth in a subcutaneous model. In phase II, second-generation fibers were fabricated from poly(DTE carbonate) and poly(L-lactic acid), with diameters of 79 and 72 mum, ultimate tensile strengths of 230 and 299 MPa, moduli of 3.1 and 4.9 GPa, and molecular weights of 65,000 and 170,000, respectively. These fibers were evaluated on the basis of molecular weight retention, strength retention, and cytocompatibility. After 30 weeks of incubation in phosphate-buffered saline, poly(DTE carbonate) and poly(L-lactic acid) fibers had 87 and 7% strength retention, respectively. Similar trends were observed for molecular weight loss. Fibroblasts attached and proliferated equally well on both scaffold types in vitro. Finally, in phase III, a prototype ACL reconstruction device was fabricated from poly(DTE carbonate) fibers with strength values comparable to those of the normal ACL (57 MPa). Collectively, these data suggest that poly(DTE carbonate) fibers are potentially useful for development of resorbable scaffolds for ACL reconstruction.