Tendon Decellularized Matrix Modified Fibrous Scaffolds with Porous and Crimped Microstructure for Tendon Regeneration

Current engineered synthetic scaffolds fail to functionally repair and regenerate ruptured native tendon tissues, partly because they cannot satisfy both the unique biological and biomechanical properties of these tissues. Ideal scaffolds for tendon repair and regeneration need to provide porous topographic structure and biological cues necessary for the efficient infiltration and tenogenic differentiation of embedded stem cells. To obtain the crimped and porous scaffolds, highly aligned PLLA fibers were first prepared by electrospinning followed by postprocessing. Through a mild and controlled hydrogen gas foaming technique, we successfully transformed the crimped fibrous mats into three-dimensional porous scaffolds without sacrificing the crimped microstructure. Porcine derived tendon matrix (pDTM) was then grafted onto this porous scaffold through fiber surface modification and carbodiimide chemistry. These biofunctionalized scaffolds maintained the crimped pattern similar to native tendon collagen fascicles with efficient porosity enabling tendon derived stem/progenitor cell (TSPC) proliferation and migration, exhibiting synergistic effects of tenogenic induction and strong adhesion to native tendons. Together, our data suggest that these biofunctionalized scaffolds exhibit appropriate tenogenic induction and mechanical properties and can be exploited as a promising engineered scaffold for the treatment of acute tendon rupture.