Electrospinning of cartilage and meniscus matrix polymers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of producing a cartilaginous implant by producing a polymer scaffold composition by electrospinning a polymer solution onto a collector in order to obtain polymer fibers; crosslinking the polymer fibers; and adding a plurality of cells to the polymer scaffold composition, wherein the plurality of cells comprises cartilaginous cells to form a cartilaginous implant.

1 - 100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A meniscal implant comprising a plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers, the polymer fibers of the plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers having a structure comprising:
 (a) a shell comprising a first polymer; and   (b) a core comprising a second polymer,   wherein the meniscal implant comprises a V-shape or a custom shape of a meniscus, and   wherein the meniscal implant has a Young's modulus of about 100 MPa to about 300 MPa measured in a circumferential direction.   
     
     
         102 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the first polymer is selected from the group consisting of: collagen, methacrylated collagen, and both. 
     
     
         103 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, a copolymer thereof, and a blend thereof. 
     
     
         104 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the polymer fibers of the plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers are aligned. 
     
     
         105 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the polymer fibers of the plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers are biodegradable. 
     
     
         106 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the polymer fibers of the plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers are photocrosslinked polymer fibers. 
     
     
         107 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant comprises pores having a mean pore diameter from about 1 nanometer to about 500 micrometers. 
     
     
         108 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein polymer fibers of the plurality of cross-linked polymer fibers comprise an average diameter from about 1 nanometer to about 1000 nanometers. 
     
     
         109 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises a plurality of cells. 
     
     
         110 . The meniscal implant of  claim 109 , wherein the plurality of cells is selected from the group consisting of: chondrocytes, chondroblasts, cartilaginous cells, mesenchymal stem cells, fibrocartilaginous cells, meniscal cells, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         111 . The meniscal implant of  claim 110 , wherein the meniscal cells comprise vascular meniscal cells, avascular meniscal cells, or both. 
     
     
         112 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises an extracellular component or portion thereof. 
     
     
         113 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises a support material, a protein, a glycoprotein, a proteoglycan, a biochemical, a biomimetic gel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         114 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronan, collagenase, lubricin, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         115 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises a joint lubricant. 
     
     
         116 . The meniscal implant of  claim 115 , wherein the joint lubricant is selected from the group consisting of: a gelatin, a heparin, a synovial fluid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         117 . The meniscal implant of  claim 101 , wherein the meniscal implant has a wet-strength half-life of at least 6 months. 
     
     
         118 . A method of replacing a meniscus or a portion thereof in a subject, the method comprising implanting the meniscal implant of  claim 101  into the subject, thereby replacing the meniscus or portion thereof in the subject. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the meniscus or portion thereof is a lateral meniscus or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the meniscus or portion thereof is a medial meniscus or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the subject has a meniscal lesion, has a discoid meniscus, is in need of a meniscus transplant, has had a meniscectomy, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the meniscal implant further comprises a plurality of cells derived from the subject.