A simple and low-cost method to develop porous egg white scaffolds with controllable shape for cartilage regeneration

Abstract

Current tissue-engineered scaffolds (TES) for cartilage regeneration have limited clinical application due to the challenges of complex fabrication methods and high production costs. This study presents the development of porous scaffolds derived entirely from egg white (EW), using a straightforward combination of lyophilization and thermal crosslinking. The objective was to create an ideal TES with a simple fabrication process, low cost, and high shape precision, making it suitable for clinical use. EW was blended with deionized water in various proportions to optimize scaffold properties. The resulting porous EW scaffolds exhibited adjustable pore size, porosity, mechanical strength, degradability, and hydrophilicity. Notably, thermal crosslinking significantly improved structural stability, enhanced mechanical properties, and slowed the degradation rate of the scaffolds. Biocompatibility testing revealed that the porous EW scaffolds supported excellent chondrocyte adherence and exhibited good biocompatibility. Subcutaneous implantation in rats demonstrated that the scaffolds were immunologically inert. Both in vitro and in vivo cartilage formation assays confirmed that the EW scaffolds facilitated the generation of cartilage-like tissue, featuring cartilage-specific matrix components and appropriate mechanical strength. Furthermore, the EW scaffolds were easy to fabricate into various shapes, displayed excellent shape retention, and supported precise cartilage regeneration after subcutaneous implantation. These features underscore their potential for creating tailored scaffolds for complex cartilage repair. In conclusion, this study provides a simple, cost-effective method for producing porous EW scaffolds with tunable shapes and properties, highlighting their promise for clinical cartilage regeneration applications.