3D printed PCL/GelMA biphasic scaffold boosts cartilage regeneration using co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes: In vivo study

•A biphasic scaffold consisting of a cells-encapsulated biodegradable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel on the upper layer and a 3D printed poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold filled with cells-encapsulated GelMA hydrogel on the lower layer was fabricated to support cartilage regeneration using co-culture of bone marrow mesenchyml stem cells (BMSCs) and costal chondrocytes (CChon).•The synergistic effect of BMSCs and costal chondrocytes was sufficient to induce chondrogenesis, but cartilage regeneration was better under TGF-β3 supplement.•The PCL/GelMA biphasic scaffolds with cells co-culture possessed excellent cartilage regenerative capability, and enabled the Young’s modulus of engineered cartilage comparable to that of native cartilage.•The implantation of biphasic scaffold resulted in less mechanical pain than cartilage defects by gait analysis.