Disc-like angle-ply structures for intervertebral disc tissue engineering and replacement.

Abstract

Provided are implant scaffolds comprising angle-ply arrays of two or more layers of substantially aligned fiber, methods of making and using said scaffolds, and kits comprising such scaffolds. Thus, aligned nanofibrous scaffolds were generated via electrospinning; briefly, poly(ε-caprolactone) were dissolved at 143 mg/mL in equal parts THF and N,N-dimethylformamide, then extruded at 2.5 mL/h through a spinneret charged to 13 kV; the resulting nanofibrous jet was collected on a grounded mandrel rotating at 10 m/s and located 20 cm from the spinneret; aluminum shields on either side of the spinneret were charged to +9 kV to focus the jet; the spinneret was fanned back and forth to ensure uniform fiber deposition; mats of ca. 250 μm thickness were electrospun to match the natural lamellar thickness of the annulus fibrosus. [on SciFinder(R)]