Highly porous poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering were fabricated in this study using the fused deposition manufacturing (FDM) process and were further modified by type II collagen. The average molecular weight of PLGA decreased to about 60% of the original value after the melt-extrusion process. Type II collagen exhibited sponge-like structure and filled the macroporous FDM scaffolds. An increase of the fiber spacing resulted in an increase of the porosity. The storage modulus of FDM scaffolds with a large fiber spacing was comparable to that of the native porcine articular cartilage. Although the FDM hybrid scaffolds were swollen in various extents after 28 days of in vitro culture, the seeded chondrocytes were well distributed in the interior of the scaffolds with a large fiber spacing and neocartilage was formed around the scaffolds. The study also suggested that a low processing temperature may be required to produce PLGA precision scaffolds using FDM.
