3D Bioprinting Strategies To Engineer Structurally Organised Meniscal Tissue Grafts

Abstract

Lesions to the meniscus are common sports-related injuries that can lead to articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis if left untreated. While surgical repair procedures and meniscal substitutes offer better clinical outcomes compared to meniscectomies, there are still complications and reoperation risks. Therefore, there is a need for new strategies to repair meniscal tissue, which has motivated the investigation of 3D bioprinting, which aims to develop patient-specific implants that mimic the anatomy, structure, composition, and biomechanics of the native tissue. This thesis presents novel biofabrication frameworks for engineering biomimetic meniscal tissue grafts. MEW scaffolds with tailored architecture can modulate collagen fibre directionality and tensile mechanical properties. Temporal depletion of GAGs improves collagen network maturation and mechanical properties. Zone-specific MPCs enable the recapitulation of meniscus zone-specific features. Large-volume, wedge-shaped anisotropic fibrocartilaginous tissues can be engineered using the MEW process. Additionally, a bioprinting platform leveraging alginate-based boundary conditions directs cell self-organisation. These findings lay the foundation for regenerative treatments for meniscus repair using tissue engineering approaches.