Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Ziylan A. (Yürütücü), Havıtçıoğlu H., Koçtürk A. S., Balci A., Ergür U. B.
TÜBİTAK Projesi, 2017 - 2021
Tissue engineering techniques have been
developed to provide alternative strategies for the repair of damaged meniscus
tissues. Tissue engineering applications have a significant potential to
protect total or partial transplantation of the meniscus tissue or the torn
meniscus’ functions. These applications include the repair of the biological
parts of the tissue and are used to improve the ability to repair in the
avascular area and to repair the excisional parts of the meniscus with the help
of scaffolds. Meniscus damages that occurred due to load absorption and followed
by arthrosis and subchondral bone damages increased the tendency to apply knee
prosthesis. There is a need for the alternative repair techniques to increase
the potential healing response of meniscus tears and to broaden meniscal
indications. In the repair of meniscus tears, tissue engineering techniques aim
to protect both the meniscus function and improve the healing process.
In the project, two different tissue scaffolds were produced considering the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the meniscus. In D1 tissue scaffold, PLA plates produced using a 3D printer and regenerated cellulose fibers were integrated, collagen:chitosan solution was impregnated into the structure, and hydrogel composite scaffolds were obtained with the addition of crosslinker. Cellulosic loofah with swelling feature was used as reinforcement material in D2 scaffold. Cellulosic loofah was integrated with PHBV nanofibers to be produced by wet electrospinning method, then collagen:chitosan solution was impregnated and hydrogel composite scaffolds were formed with the addition of crosslinker. After material characterization of the fabricated scaffolds, cell culture studies were carried out using a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) line. D2 scaffolds, which gave better results than D1 and D2 scaffolds, whose biocompatibility was tested in in-vitro studies, were used in experimental animals. Based on the results MSC seeded D2 scaffolds enhanced meniscal healing.