The embodiments and examples provided herein are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention relates to compositions and methods of preparing a hydrogel comprising a water soluble cellulose compound, as well as preparing a three-dimensional matrix of micron sized electrospun fibers, wherein the electrospun fibers are formed from a electrospun composite comprising a water soluble cellulose compound. The matrix provides a scaffold supporting and promoting cartilage regeneration and repair.