Study on cartilage nano scaffolds with acellular matrix and collagen II

Objective: To explore the feasibility of preparing tissue-engineered nano scaffolds using acellular articular cartilage extracellular matrix (CAEM)and Type II collagen (COL II) via electrospinning technology. Methods: Rabbit costal cartilage was decellularized, defatted, and enzymatically digested, followed by drying to obtain CAEM.CAEM and COL II were mixed at a mass ratio of 1:2 and processed into tissue-engineered nano scaffolds using electrospinning technology. The physicochemical properties of the scaffolds were evaluated by measuring their water absorption rate and degradation rate. The cytotoxicity and cell adhesion properties of the scaffolds were assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Results: The fiber diameter of the CAEM-COL II nano scaffolds was (627±165.4) nm, with a water absorption rate of (623.0±27.4) %and a degradation rate of (45.6±5.8) %after 35 days. The CCK-8 assay results indicated that the CAEM-COL II composite scaffolds exhibited good adhesion properties for chondrocytes and favorable biological performance. Conclusion: The CAEM-COL II nano scaffolds provide an excellent microenvironment for the growth and proliferation of chondrocytes and have potential application value in tissue-engineered cartilage reconstruction.