Generation and Evaluation of Novel Biomaterials Based on Decellularized Sturgeon Cartilage for Use in Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Because cartilage has limited regenerative capability, a fully efficient advanced therapy medicinal product is needed to treat severe cartilage damage. We evaluated a novel biomaterial obtained by decellularizing sturgeon chondral endoskeleton tissue for use in cartilage tissue engineering. In silico analysis suggested high homology between human and sturgeon collagen proteins, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography confirmed that both types of cartilage consisted mainly of the same amino acids. Decellularized sturgeon cartilage was recellularized with human chondrocytes and four types of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and their suitability for generating a cartilage substitute was assessed ex vivo and in vivo. The results supported the biocompatibility of the novel scaffold, as well as its ability to sustain cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In vivo assays showed that the MSC cells in grafted cartilage disks were biosynthetically active and able to remodel the extracellular matrix of cartilage substitutes, with the production of type II collagen and other relevant components, especially when adipose tissue MSC were used. In addition, these cartilage substitutes triggered a pro-regenerative reaction mediated by CD206-positive M2 macrophages. These preliminary results warrant further research to characterize in greater detail the potential clinical translation of these novel cartilage substitutes.

Histological characterization of the human masticatory oral mucosa. A histochemical and immunohistochemical study

“…Quantitative analyzes were performed using ImageJ software (version 1.53 k, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD) and following standardized protocols previously described (Carriel et al, 2014; Ortiz‐Arrabal et al, 2021; Rodriguez‐Pozo et al, 2020; Ruiz‐López et al, 2022; Chato‐Astrain et al, 2023; Ortiz‐Arrabal et al, 2023). Briefly, the histomorphological features of the POM and OOM was assessed measuring epithelial length, thickness, and cell area, as well as rete ridge/papillae dimensions.…”

“…Quantitative analyzes were performed using ImageJ software (version 1.53 k, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD) and following standardized protocols previously described (Carriel et al, 2014;Ortiz-Arrabal et al, 2021;Rodriguez-Pozo et al, 2020;Ruiz-L opez et al, 2022;Chato-Astrain et al, 2023;Ortiz-Arrabal et al, 2023).…”

Histological characterization of the human scapholunate ligament

“…Results of the histochemical analyses were quantified in each zone of the SLIL and control tissues using the ImageJ software (version 1.53 k, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD), as previously described (V. Carriel et al, 2014; Ortiz‐Arrabal et al, 2021; Rodriguez‐Pozo et al, 2020; Ruiz‐López et al, 2022). In each image, we randomly selected five 25 μm × 25 μm square areas, and we obtained a numeric value (expressed as intensity units or I.U.)…”

Optical Behavior of Human Skin Substitutes: Absorbance in the 200–400 nm UV Range

“…We then analyzed the presence of the ECM components, the collagen and the proteoglycans. With this purpose, we used the square tool ImageJ (25 µm × 25 µm squares) and quantified the average pixel intensity within each square, as previously described [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. In each image, 20 independent areas were randomly selected at the dermal substitute.…”