Host–Guest Functionalized Hierarchical Porous Polyurethane Scaffold for Mechano‐Biological Coupling in Meniscus Reconstruction

Abstract Meniscus injuries frequently lead to progressive joint degeneration due to biomechanical instability. Current repair materials fail to achieve an optimal balance between mechanical support and tissue regeneration, often resulting in repair failure. To address this challenge, a dynamically functionalized polyurethane scaffold is engineered that provides enhanced mechanical reinforcement and biological guidance for meniscus regeneration. Using a novel dual‐template fabrication strategy, the scaffold features a hierarchically porous architecture that is conducive to cell infiltration and nutrient diffusion. Importantly, the β‐cyclodextrin‐crosslinked polyurethane matrix exhibits outstanding fatigue resistance and mechanical behavior closely matching that of native meniscal tissue. This crosslinking enables robust host–guest interactions with dopamine, thereby ensuring stable anchoring of dopamine‐modified hyaluronic acid. Such an innovative surface functionalization enhances lubrication while promoting sustained cellular recruitment and lineage differentiation. In a 24‐week repair study, the scaffold supported continuous and well‐integrated tissue regeneration. Its excellent mechanical performance restored the knee's stress distribution to physiological levels, preventing pathological joint changes. Furthermore, it preserved native collagen/apatite orientation and distribution in bone and cartilage, restoring normal joint biomechanics. This dual‐structure polyurethane scaffold uniquely integrates essential mechanical and biological functions, overcoming key limitations of existing approaches and offering a promising solution for load‐bearing tissue regeneration.