Full-field strain distribution in hierarchical electrospun nanofibrous poly-L(lactic) acid/collagen scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration: A multiscale study

Alberto Sensini; Olga Stamati; Gregorio Marchiori; Nicola Sancisi; Carlo Gotti; Gianluca Giavaresi; Luca Cristofolini; Maria Letizia Focarete; Andrea Zucchelli; Gianluca Tozzi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26796

Full-field strain distribution in hierarchical electrospun nanofibrous poly-L(lactic) acid/collagen scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration: A multiscale study

Heliyon. 2024 Feb 24;10(5):e26796. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26796. eCollection 2024 Mar 15.

Authors

Alberto Sensini^{1

2}, Olga Stamati³, Gregorio Marchiori⁴, Nicola Sancisi², Carlo Gotti⁵, Gianluca Giavaresi⁴, Luca Cristofolini^{1

6}, Maria Letizia Focarete^{6

7}, Andrea Zucchelli^{2

5}, Gianluca Tozzi⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration and cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
² Department of Industrial Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
³ ESRF The European Synchrotron, Grenoble, France.
⁴ Surgical Sciences and Technologies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
⁵ Advanced Mechanics and Materials - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-MAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁶ Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, I-40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
⁷ Department of Chemistry 'G. Ciamician' and National Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁸ Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Regeneration of injured tendons and ligaments (T/L) is a worldwide need. In this study electrospun hierarchical scaffolds made of a poly-L (lactic) acid/collagen blend were developed reproducing all the multiscale levels of aggregation of these tissues. Scanning electron microscopy, microCT and tensile mechanical tests were carried out, including a multiscale digital volume correlation analysis to measure the full-field strain distribution of electrospun structures. The principal strains (ε_p1 and ε_p3) described the pattern of strains caused by the nanofibers rearrangement, while the deviatoric strains (ε_D) revealed the related internal sliding of nanofibers and bundles. The results of this study confirmed the biomimicry of such electrospun hierarchical scaffolds, paving the way to further tissue engineering and clinical applications.

Keywords: Digital volume correlation; Electrospinning; Hierarchical scaffolds; In situ mechanical tests; MicroCT; Tendons and ligaments.