Evaluation of Extracellular Matrix Formation in Polycaprolactone and Starch-Compounded Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Meshes When Seeded with Bovine Articular Chondrocytes

Cartilage defects are a major health problem. Tissue engineering has developed different strategies and several biomaterial morphologies, including natural-based ones, for repairing these defects. We used electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) and starch-compounded PCL (SPCL) nanofiber meshes to evaluate extracellular matrix (ECM) formation by bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs). The main aim of this work was to evaluate the suitability of PCL and SPCL nanofiber meshes in chondrocyte cultures, and their capability to produce ECM when seeded onto these nanostructured materials. The effect of culture conditions (static vs dynamic) on ECM formation was also assessed. BACs were seeded onto PCL and SPCL nanofiber meshes using a dynamic cell-seeding procedure and cultured under static or dynamic conditions for 4 weeks. Constructs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, histology, immunolocalization of collagen types I and II, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) quantification. Results show an extensive cell colonization of the entire nanofiber mesh, for both materials, and that chondrocytes presented typical spherical morphology. Some degree of cell infiltration inside the nanofiber meshes was noticeable for both materials. ECM formation and GAG were detected throughout the materials, evidencing typical construct maturation. PCL and SPCL nanofiber meshes are suitable as supports for ECM formation and therefore are adequate for cartilage tissue-engineering approaches.