Biodegradable polymers in chondrogenesis of human articular chondrocytes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly(glycolic acid-epsilon-caprolactone) (PGCL), poly(L-lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(L-lactic acid-epsilon-caprolactone, 75:25 (w/w)) [P(LA-CL)25], poly-epsilon-caprolactone (tetrabutoxy titanium) [PCL(Ti)], and fullerene C-60 dimalonic acid (DMA) in cartilage transplants. After 4 weeks of culture of human articular cartilage, the levels of cell proliferation and differentiation and the expression of cartilage-specific matrix genes were estimated. The relationship between cell differentiation and gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) was also evaluated. All materials except PCL(Ti) retained cell proliferation activities similar to the controls. Cell differentiation levels from the highest to the lowest were in the following order: PGA >> PLGA > PGCL > Control = DMSO > P(LA-CL)25 = PCL(Ti) >> fullerene C-60 DMA. Expression of the collagen type II gene was selectively upregulated for PGA, PGCL, and PLGA and slightly increased for P(LA-CL)25 polymers but was downregulated for fullerene C-60 DMA. Aggrecan gene expression was strongest with PGA and was consistently expressed with other matrices, especially with PGCL and PLGA. However, the expression patterns of the connexin 43 gene were different from the former two genes. Multiple regression analysis revealed a high correlation between cartilage proteoglycans production and expression levels of these three genes.

Human platelet releasates combined with polyglycolic acid scaffold promote chondrocyte differentiation and phenotypic maintenance

“…In agreement with previous studies performed on PGA/ chondrocytes constructs (Banu et al 2005;Zwingmann et al 2007), we have observed that PGA was able to induce a marked re-differentiation of seeded chondrocytes previously passaged in monolayer. In addition, we have observed that the combined use of PGA scaffold and PRPr, as cell cultures supplementation, seemed not only to significantly promote chondrocyte differentiation but also to maintain the chondrogenic phenotype longer than conventional supplementation by further increasing high levels of sox9 and type II collagen, and at the same time limiting the synthesis of type I collagen.…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated the reliability of PGA scaffold to redifferentiate chondrocytes that underwent de-differentions due to in vitro expansion (Banu et al 2005;Endres et al 2007;Zwingmann et al 2007), as well as to repair in vivo articular cartilage defects (Endres et al 2007;Komura et al 2010).…”

A comparison of the influence of material on in vitro cartilage tissue engineering with PCL, PGS, and POC 3D scaffold architecture seeded with chondrocytes

“…Many studies have reported how one or two materials affect chondrogenesis yet they cannot make a completely unfounded comparison of material effects due to lack of controlled scaffold design and the resultant differences in scaffold architecture [17, 32, 33]. Since scaffold design is also a critical factor affecting tissue regeneration within scaffold [1], we cannot isolate material effects on chondrogenesis unless we can test different scaffold materials fabricated with the same 3D architecture.…”

Biodegradable Polymeric Fiber Structures in Tissue Engineering

“…Various techniques for repairing cartilage defects have been developed, including abrasion, 68 drilling, 69 microfracture, 70 osteochondral grafting, 71 and transplantation of tissue-engineered constructs. [72][73][74] Many different types of polymeric matrices with and without cells have been tested in vitro, as well as in experimental animals and in human patients, for their ability to promote articular cartilage repair. Recent trends are toward the use of fiber-based structures for engineering of articular cartilage.…”