Fibronectin-coated polyurethane meniscal scaffolding supplemented with MSCs improves scaffold integration and proteoglycan production in a rabbit model.

Purpose: The role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in supporting the formation of new meniscal tissue in a meniscal scaffold is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the meniscal tissue produced in a fibronectin (FN)-coated polyurethane (PU) meniscal scaffold after a meniscal injury was made in an experimental rabbit model.

Methods: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in two groups after performing a medial meniscectomy of the anterior horn.

Fibronectin-coating enhances attachment and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells on a polyurethane meniscal scaffold.

Introduction: Partial meniscectomy is one of the most common surgical strategy for a meniscal injury, but sometimes, patients complain of knee pain due to an overload in the ablated compartment. In these cases, implantation of tissue engineering scaffold could be indicated. Currently, two commercial scaffolds, based on collagen or polycaprolactone-polyurethane (PCL-PU), are available for meniscus scaffolding.