Synthetic Porous Polymers and Naturally Derived Materials for the Tissue Engineering of a Scapholunate Bone-Ligament-Bone Construct

The scapholunate ligament of the wrist is often injured from a fall onto an outstretched hand. Current treatments do not replicate the natural bone-ligament-bone anatomy of the ligament and can lead to graft failure or arthritis. This thesis explores combining natural and synthetic materials to create a bone-ligament-bone medical device for ligament reconstruction. Biodegradable materials such as collagen tissues obtained from bovine tendons, synthetic porous polymer sponges, and fibrin scaffolds from blood sources were examined. These investigated materials support human cell growth during cell culture, form new tissue when implanted in animal models, and can be used in bone-ligament-bone manufacturing.