BackgroundDue to their intrinsic properties, stem cells are promising tools for new developments in tissue engineering and particularly for cartilage tissue regeneration. Although mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from bone marrow (BM-MSC) have long been the most used stem cell source in cartilage tissue engineering, they have certain limits. Thanks to their properties such as low immunogenicity and particularly chondrogenic differentiation potential, mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from Wharton’s jelly (WJ-MSC) promise to be an interesting source of MSC for cartilage tissue engineering.MethodsIn this study, we propose to evaluate chondrogenic potential of WJ-MSC embedded in alginate/hyaluronic acid hydrogel over 28 days. Hydrogels were constructed by the original spraying method. Our main objective was to evaluate chondrogenic differentiation of WJ-MSC on three-dimensional scaffolds, without adding growth factors, at transcript and protein levels. We compared the results to those obtained from standard BM-MSC.ResultsAfter 3 days of culture, WJ-MSC seemed to be adapted to their new three-dimensional environment without any detectable damage. From day 14 and up to 28 days, the proportion of WJ-MSC CD73+, CD90+, CD105+ and CD166+ decreased significantly compared to monolayer marker expression. Moreover, WJ-MSC and BM-MSC showed different phenotype profiles. After 28 days of scaffold culture, our results showed strong upregulation of cartilage-specific transcript expression. WJ-MSC exhibited greater type II collagen synthesis than BM-MSC at both transcript and protein levels. Furthermore, our work highlighted a relevant result showing that WJ-MSC expressed Runx2 and type X collagen at lower levels than BM-MSC.ConclusionsOnce seeded in the hydrogel scaffold, WJ-MSC and BM-MSC have different profiles of chondrogenic differentiation at both the phenotypic level and matrix synthesis. After 4 weeks, WJ-MSC, embedded in a three-dimensional environment, were able to adapt to their environment and express specific cartilage-related genes and matrix proteins. Today, WJ-MSC represent a real alternative source of stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering.
Cartilage tissue engineering strategies generally result in homogeneous tissue structures with little resemblance to native zonal organization of articular cartilage. The main objective of our work concerns the buildup of complex biomaterials aimed at reconstructing biological tissue with three dimensional cells construction for mimicking cartilage architecture. In this first step, our strategy is based on structure formation by simple and progressive spraying of mixed alginate and chondrocytes at different pressures. We report the first demonstration of spraying effect on chondrocytes inside an alginate hydrogel at short (i) and long terms (ii) and the mechanical behavior of a sprayed hydrogel by biomechanical tests (plane strain compression tests).Our results indicate clearly that during the first days of culture the cells were influenced by the construction method (spraying or molding, control method) with low viability and higher production levels of nitrite. From day 7, the cell behaviors become similar for both methods. Indeed after 28 days of culture, type II collagen was observed, showing the cartilage gene expression, then a similar behavior for all methods. Finally, we conclude that the mechanical performances of sprayed hydrogels was enhanced compared to the controls. We report here, for the first time, that it is possible to spray mixed alginate and chondrocytes with little damage for cells. Therefore, the sprayed hydrogel keeps not only the mechanical properties needed for cells, but also maintains the chondrocyte phenotype to induce cartilage.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.