Bioresorbable fiber reinforced hydrogel scaffold for cartilage tissue regeneration

m, PLCL-500 scaffolds support continuous cell proliferation even at lower cell densities. In contrast, PLCL-300 scaffolds promote initial cell adhesion but demonstrate a decline in proliferation after day 3. This constraint downregulates anabolic markers (SOX9, collagen II, Aggrecan) and upregulates matrix-degrading enzyme MMP7, primarily caused by excessive cell packing and compromised nutrient diffusion within scaffolds. Furthermore, the gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel is reinforced by PLCL-500 scaffolds, optimizing their mechanical properties and bioactivity. The composite scaffold exhibits an elongation at break of 1000% and a tensile strength of 0.5 MPa. Importantly, cell viability remains above 90%, with chondrocytes maintaining a spherical phenotype and establishing networks by day 14, accompanied by increased sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) deposition. This research clarifies the relationships among scaffold dimension, component, mechanical properties, and chondrogenesis, offering a promising strategy for cartilage tissue engineering applications.