(671i) Enhancing Cell Migration Through Dual Biomolecule Delivery From Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds

Over one million meniscal surgeries are performed in the United States every year, where the most common treatment option following a meniscal tear is a partial meniscectomy. Meniscal tissue removal, however, results in a proportional increase in contact stresses on the tibial plateau and predisposes the patient to osteoarthritis. As with other dense fibrous connective tissues, the intrinsic healing of the meniscus is severely limited due to poor vascularity and hypocellularity. Previous research indicates that the high extracellular matrix density in the mature meniscus serves as a physical hurdle to cell migration and proliferation, ultimately limiting endogenous repair. To address this limitation, we have developed electrospun fibrous scaffolds to locally deliver collagenase, a matrix-degrading enzyme, in combination with platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB), a known chemokine, to enhance cell mobility and recruitment, respectively, to the wound interface. In vivo results indicate the synergistic delivery of collagenase and PDGF-AB increases cell concentration in the tissue close to the wound interface and within the fibrous scaffold. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry reveals the beginning of new tissue formation for treatment groups with combined biomolecule delivery.