Continuous multilayered composite hydrogel as osteochondral substitute

Cartilage is a highly organized avascular soft tissue that assembles from nano-to macro-scale to produce a complex structural network. To mimic cartilage tissue, we developed a stable multilayered composite material, characterized by a tailored gradient of mechanical properties. The optimized procedure implies chemical crosslinking of each layer directly onto the previous one and ensures a drastic reduction of the material discontinuities and brittleness. The multilayered composite was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy in order to compare its physico-chemical characteristics with those of cartilage tissue. The rheological behavior of the multilayered composite was similar to that of human cartilage. Finally its cytocompatibility toward chondrocytes and osteoblasts was evaluated. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2521-2530, 2015.