Enhancing the Surface Properties of a Bioengineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Matrix for Use with Point-of-Care Stem Cell Therapy

Abstract We have previously developed a poly(L-lactic) acid (PLLA) bioengineered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) matrix that has demonstrated enhanced healing when seeded with primary ACL cells prior to implantation in a rabbit model, as compared with the matrix alone. This suggests that improving cell adhesion on the matrix may beneficially affect the healing response and long-term performance of the bioengineered ACL matrix. One regenerative engineering approach involves enhancing the surface properties of the matrix to support cell adhesion and growth in combination with point-of-care stem cell therapy. Herein, we studied the cell adhesion properties of PLLA braided microfiber matrices enhanced through the physical adsorption of fibronectin and air plasma treatment. We evaluated the kinetics and binding efficiency of fibronectin onto matrices at three time points and three fibronectin concentrations. Incubating the matrix for 120 min in a solution of 25 µg·mL−1 fibronectin achieved the greatest binding efficiency to the matrix and cellular adhesion. Exposing the matrices to air plasma treatment for 5 min before fibronectin adsorption significantly enhanced the cell adhesion of rabbit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (R-BMMSCs) 24 h post cell seeding. Finally, cellular proliferation was monitored for up to 21 d, the matrices were exposed to air plasma treatment, and fibronectin adsorption was found to result in enhanced cell number. These findings suggest that exposure to air plasma treatment and fibronectin adsorption enhances the cellular adhesion of PLLA braided microfiber matrices and may improve the clinical efficacy of the matrix in combination with point-of-care stem cell therapies.