Abstract: Objective To investigate the feasibility of the macroporous gelatin/polycaprolactone (GT/PCL) electrospun material as scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Methods The auricular chondrocytes of porcine were harvested as seed cells. Two kinds of electrospun membrane were prepared and compared: the macroporous membranes (experimental group) and the non-woven membranes (control group) as scaffolds. The structure and porosity of the two materials were observed. Adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes on the two membranes were examined in two-dimensional level (2D). And the depth of cellular infiltration were observed in three-dimensional level (3D). Results Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results suggested that the pore size of the experimental group was significantly bigger than the control group, and the data of porosity supported this result. In 2D level, there was no significant difference in adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes between the two groups. However, SEM showed that chondrocytes grew into the interior of the macroporous material. In 3D level, the infiltration depth of chondrocytes in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group. Conclusion The macroporous GT/PCL membranes do not affect the adhesion and proliferation of chondrocytes, and it is beneficial to the growth and infiltration of chondrocytes. It could be a promising scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.

Key words: Macroporous electrospun material, Tissue engineering, Porosity