Cell-seeded polyurethane-fibrin structures – A possible system for intervertebral disc regeneration

Abstract

Nowadays, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the principal causes of low back pain involving high expense within the health care system. The long-term goal is the development of a medical treatment modality focused on a more biological regeneration of the inner nucleus pulposus (NP). Hence, interest in the endoscopic implantation of an injectable material took center stage in the recent past. We report on the development of a novel polyurethane (PU) scaffold as a mechanically stable carrier system for the reimplantation of expanded autologous IVDderived cells (disc cells) to stimulate regenerative processes and restore the chondrocyte-like tissue within the NP. Primary human disc cells were seeded into newly developed PU spheroids which were subsequently encapsulated in fibrin hydrogel. The study aims to analyze adhesion properties, proliferation capacity and phenotypic characterization of these cells. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out to detect the expression of genes specifically expressed by native IVD cells. Biochemical analyses showed an increased DNA content, and a progressive enhancement of total collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was observed during cell culture. The results suggest the synthesis of an appropriate extracellular matrix as well as a stable mRNA expression of chondrogenic and/or NP specific markers. In conclusion, the data presented indicate an alternative medical approach to current treatment options of degenerated IVD tissue.

Effect of the mixture of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and annulus fibrosus cells in repairing the degenerative discs of rabbits

“…Current treatment options consist of conservative treatments (such as symptomatic pharmacological therapies and physiokinetic therapy) and surgical treatments (intervertebral fusion, total disc replacement, nucleus pulposus replacement, or surgical exeresis) (Mauth et al, 2009;Wang and Campbell, 2009). Recent advances in cell therapy have raised the possibility of regenerating the damaged disc; the autologous disc tissue could be withdrawn, regenerated in vitro, and re-implanted.…”

Effects of age, replicative lifespan and growth rate of human nucleus pulposus cells on selecting age range for cell-based biological therapies for degenerative disc diseases

“…Investigations of growth factors and gene therapy have produced promising results for disc regeneration (Chung et al 2007, Hegewald et al 2011b, Mauth et al 2009). Such studies, however, should be based on a thorough understanding of the lifespan and growth kinetics of NP cells, which may differ with host age (Jeong et al 2014).…”

Biomaterials for intervertebral disc regeneration: past performance and possible future strategies

“…Little NP cell research. Attia et al, 2011;Dahl et al, 2010;Hu et al, 2012;Mauth et al, 2009;Park et al, 2013;van Tienen et al, 2009;Santerre et al, 2005;Yeganegi et al, 2010 …”

“…To scaffolds made of electrospun PU, AF cells attached and produced ECM components (Yeganegi et al, 2010;Attia et al, 2011). The addition of fibrin or fibronectin as cell attachment proteins further improved cell attachment to PU scaffolds (Mauth et al, 2009, Yeganegi et al, 2010. Furthermore, rabbit BMSCs proved to remain viable when seeded in a PU/SF hydrogel and produced extensive ECM.…”