Engineering Poly(L-Lactic Acid)/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds via Melt-Electrowriting: Enhancement of Osteochondral Cell Response in Human Nasal Chondrocytes

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Osteochondral repair remains challenging due to cartilage's limited self-healing capacity and the structural complexity of the osteochondral interface, particularly the hypertrophic layer anchoring cartilage to bone. We fabricated melt electrowritten (MEW) poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds incorporating 1%, 5%, and 10% hydroxyapatite (HAp) to provide a precise fiber architecture (~200 μm pores) and bone-mimetic biochemical cues. Human nasal chondrocytes (hNCs), currently in clinical trials for knee cartilage repair, were selected for their phenotypic plasticity and established safety profile, facilitating translational potential. HAp-PLLA scaffolds, especially at higher HAp contents, enhanced hNC adhesion, proliferation, mineralization, and maintenance of cartilage-specific ECM compared to PLLA alone. This work demonstrates the first high-HAp MEW-printed PLLA scaffold for osteochondral repair, integrating architectural precision with bioactivity in a clinically relevant cell-material system.

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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