Alisha Gupta

Scaffold-Hydrogel Composite for Cartilage Regeneration in Osteoarthritis Applications

Started Oct. 25, 2022

Abstract or project description

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis which is a degenerative joint disease causing joints to begin to break down and underlying bones to change. This “wear and tear” most frequently affects hands, hips and knees. This is important because OA pain is considered to be a leading cause of mobility impairment in older adults, with hip and knee OA ranked 11th highest contributors to global disability. Cartilage tissue engineering utilizing polymer scaffolds and hydrogels is an emerging field for treating osteoarthritis. The goal of this project is to address the problem of osteoarthritis and its association with mobility impairment. Through the utilization of polymer scaffolds and hydrogels, this paper creates a hybrid material using PCL scaffolds and GelMa/PEGDA hydrogels that can better withstand physiological and mechanical demands and provide a more controlled environment for drug and nutrient delivery. The scaffolds will provide a three-dimensional structure for tissue growth and the hydrogels will be used to deliver drugs and growth factors. The combination of the two materials can then be utilized to reconstruct healthy, simulated tissue on deficient applicants, reducing the pain and mobility impairment associated with osteoarthritis at a lower cost.