Hydrogel-Based Bilayered Scaffold Incorporating Hydroxyapatite and Glycosaminoglycans for Advanced Osteoarthritis Therapy

Osteoarthritis, the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, ranks among the ten most disabling diseases in developed nations. Due to its lack of nerves, lymphatic vessels, and blood vessels, the articular cartilage has no innate capacity for self-healing. The severity of the disease progression and the underlying subchondral bone influence the treatment modalities, which range from management therapies to pharmaceutical and surgical interventions. However, regenerating hyaline cartilage in a damaged articulating joint continues to pose a difficulty, necessitating the development of tissue engineering strategies. This study aims to create bilayered scaffolds with spatial variation that mimic native osteochondral tissue. Hydroxyapatite and glycosaminoglycans have been incorporated into the underlying subchondral bone and superficial cartilage of the freeze-thaw hydrogel. The hydrogel's porous structure was revealed by scanning electron micrographs (SEM). Additionally, the scaffold's interconnected porosity was determined using the liquid displacement method. Swelling and degradation studies were conducted to examine the biphasic scaffold's water uptake potential and weight loss profile. The release profile demonstrates the scaffold's sustained release of chondroitin sulfate. The biphasic scaffold's confirmation of the presence of hydroxyapatite and chondroitin sulfate was established through staining techniques, and their concentrations were also quantified using biochemical methods. In vitro studies using mammalian chondrocytes will be conducted to evaluate the scaffold's chondrogenic potential.