Regenerative Material for the Treatment of Articular Cartilage Damage: Synthesis and Characterization of Hyaluronic Acid and Poly(glycolic acid) Composite Matrices

Currently, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation are used to alleviate pain associated with joint cartilage disorders. Hyaluronic acid injections are known not only for their pain-reducing effects but also for stimulating cartilage regeneration. In this study, a regenerative biomaterial platform comprising poly (glycolic acid) mesh and cross-linked hyaluronic acid was developed for the repair of degenerated joint cartilage following microfracture and subchondral bone stimulation. For this purpose, in the first stage, hyaluronic acid gels cross-linked with butanediol diglycidyl ether, containing a concentration of 23 mg/mL, were prepared. The residual butanediol diglycidyl ether cross-linker in the obtained gels was below 1 ppb. The pH value was determined to be 6.95 ± 0.2, and the osmolality was 361.3 ± 2.9 mOsm/kg. The injection force and related rheological properties were investigated. In the second stage, the cross-linked hyaluronic acid gels were impregnated into poly (glycolic acid) meshes, evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and characterized chemically. Finally, the composite matrices were recellularized with chondrocytes, and cell viability analysis was conducted using Alamar Blue. The Alamar Blue results and scanning electron microscopy images of the composite structure consisting of poly (glycolic acid) mesh and cross-linked hyaluronic acid indicated that the structure supports chondrocyte viability.