Abstract：
BACKGROUND: The meniscus injury is a common disease in the area of sports medicine. The main treatment for this disease is the pain relief, rather than the meniscal function recovery. It may lead to a poor prognosis and accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis. In this study, we designed a meniscal scaffold to achieve the purposes of meniscal function recovery and cartilage protection.
METHODS: The meniscal scaffold was designed using the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) method. The scaffold was simulated as a three-dimensional (3D) intact knee model using a finite element analysis software to obtain the results of different mechanical tests. The mechanical properties were gained through the universal machine. Finally, an in vivo model was established to evaluate the effects of the TPMS-based meniscal scaffold on the cartilage protection. The radiography and histological examinations were performed to assess the cartilage and bony structures. Different regions of the regenerated meniscus were tested using the universal machine to assess the biomechanical functions.
RESULTS: The TPMS-based meniscal scaffold with a larger volume fraction and a longer functional periodicity demonstrated a better mechanical performance, and the load transmission and stress distribution were closer to the native biomechanical environment. The radiographic images and histological results of the TPMS group exhibited a better performance in terms of cartilage protection than the grid group. The regenerated meniscus in the TPMS group also had similar mechanical properties to the native meniscus.
CONCLUSIONS: The TPMS method can affect the mechanical properties by adjusting the volume fraction and functional periodicity. The TPMS-based meniscal scaffold showed appropriate features for meniscal regeneration and cartilage protection.
METHODS: The meniscal scaffold was designed using the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) method. The scaffold was simulated as a three-dimensional (3D) intact knee model using a finite element analysis software to obtain the results of different mechanical tests. The mechanical properties were gained through the universal machine. Finally, an in vivo model was established to evaluate the effects of the TPMS-based meniscal scaffold on the cartilage protection. The radiography and histological examinations were performed to assess the cartilage and bony structures. Different regions of the regenerated meniscus were tested using the universal machine to assess the biomechanical functions.
RESULTS: The TPMS-based meniscal scaffold with a larger volume fraction and a longer functional periodicity demonstrated a better mechanical performance, and the load transmission and stress distribution were closer to the native biomechanical environment. The radiographic images and histological results of the TPMS group exhibited a better performance in terms of cartilage protection than the grid group. The regenerated meniscus in the TPMS group also had similar mechanical properties to the native meniscus.
CONCLUSIONS: The TPMS method can affect the mechanical properties by adjusting the volume fraction and functional periodicity. The TPMS-based meniscal scaffold showed appropriate features for meniscal regeneration and cartilage protection.
摘要：
背景：半月板损伤是运动医学领域的常见疾病。这种疾病的主要治疗方法是缓解疼痛，而不是半月板功能恢复。它可能导致不良预后并加速骨关节炎的进展。在这项研究中,设计半月板支架以达到半月板功能恢复和软骨保护的目的。
方法：半月板支架是使用三重周期性最小表面（TPMS）方法设计的。使用有限元分析软件将支架模拟为三维（3D）完整的膝盖模型，以获得不同的力学测试结果。机械性能是通过万能机获得的。最后,建立体内模型以评估基于TPMS的半月板支架对软骨保护的影响。进行射线照相和组织学检查以评估软骨和骨结构。使用万能机测试再生半月板的不同区域以评估生物力学功能。
结果：基于TPMS的半月板支架具有更大的体积分数和更长的功能周期性，表现出更好的机械性能，载荷传递和应力分布更接近天然生物力学环境。TPMS组的射线照相图像和组织学结果在软骨保护方面表现出比网格组更好的性能。TPMS组中的再生弯月面也具有与天然弯月面相似的机械性能。
结论：TPMS方法可以通过调节体积分数和功能周期性来影响机械性能。基于TPMS的半月板支架显示出半月板再生和软骨保护的适当特征。
方法：半月板支架是使用三重周期性最小表面（TPMS）方法设计的。使用有限元分析软件将支架模拟为三维（3D）完整的膝盖模型，以获得不同的力学测试结果。机械性能是通过万能机获得的。最后,建立体内模型以评估基于TPMS的半月板支架对软骨保护的影响。进行射线照相和组织学检查以评估软骨和骨结构。使用万能机测试再生半月板的不同区域以评估生物力学功能。
结果：基于TPMS的半月板支架具有更大的体积分数和更长的功能周期性，表现出更好的机械性能，载荷传递和应力分布更接近天然生物力学环境。TPMS组的射线照相图像和组织学结果在软骨保护方面表现出比网格组更好的性能。TPMS组中的再生弯月面也具有与天然弯月面相似的机械性能。
结论：TPMS方法可以通过调节体积分数和功能周期性来影响机械性能。基于TPMS的半月板支架显示出半月板再生和软骨保护的适当特征。
