Electrospinning Tissue Scaffolds for the Annulus Fibrosus

Overview

Back pain affects millions of people in the United States every year, often resulting from damaged or degenerated intervertebral discs. Current surgical treatments, including discectomies, spinal fusions, and metal total disc replacements, frequently lead to painful, long-term complications like nerve damage, limited range of movement, and the repeated need to undergo surgery. This study hypothesizes that electrospun scaffolds composed of a synthetic blend of biopolymers can effectively replicate the structure of an intervertebral disc and serve as a scaffold for cell seeding. Given electrospinning’s unique ability to produce highly aligned fibers, this method can closely replicate the body’s native intervertebral disc architecture as a biomimetic alternative to traditional intervertebral disc replacements. A synthetic blend of biopolymers, including polycaprolactone and poly-lactic acid, was developed to mimic the mechanical structure of the annulus fibrosus. A rotating mandrel electrospinner was used to suc cessfully achieve 3D circular lamellar structures with fibers assembled at the 30° to horizontal orientation that gives these disks their strength and flexibility. The scalable nature of mandrel electrospinning presents a more cost and time-effective approach than other current solutions, potentially enabling rapid production of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar intervertebral disc scaffolds. These findings suggest a feasible way to develop electrospun intervertebral discs as a reliable, biologically compatibl e solution that could reduce complications and improve quality of life for individuals struggling with back pain.

Competition history

• JSHS 2025 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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