ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the adhesion of polydopamine-modified collagen membrane composites to cartilage tissues and the effect on chondrocyte proliferation, and further explore the possibility of their application in autologous chondrocyte transplantation.Methods:Porous collagen membranes were prepared, and the polydopamine-modified collagen membrane composites were constructed by the adsorption method. The physical and chemical properties and structural characteristics of the membranes, such as thermal stability, thermal properties, porous structure, and surface element composition, were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The adhesion between the polydopamine-modified collagen membrane and fresh cartilage tissue was tested by a mechanical testing machine. The effects of the membranes on the adhesion and proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes were investigated by in vitro cell culture.Results:The structure and surface element composition of the membranes altered with the increase in the adsorption time of polydopamine, and the capacity of polydopamine increased with the increase in the adsorption time. The thermal stability and thermal properties of collagen membrane materials were not significantly affected by the adsorption of polydopamine. The adhesion of the membrane to cartilage tissue increased with the increase in the amount of absorbed polydopamine. The membranes showed a time-dependent promoting effect on the proliferation of the chondrocytes.Conclusions:The polydopamine-modified collagen membrane has potential application in articular cartilage repair, but more research is required to optimize the membrane before it is used in articular cartilage repair.