Genipin-Enhanced Fibrin Hydrogel and Novel Silk for Intervertebral Disc Repair in a Loaded Bovine Organ Culture Model

Abstract

(1) Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) repair represents a major challenge. Using functionalised biomaterials such as silk combined with enforced hydrogels might be a promising approach for disc repair. We aimed to test an IVD repair approach by combining a genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel with an engineered silk scaffold under complex load, after inducing an injury in a bovine whole organ IVD culture; (2) Methods: Bovine coccygeal IVDs were isolated from ~1-year-old animals within four hours post-mortem. Then, an injury in the annulus fibrosus was induced by a 2 mm biopsy punch. The repair approach consisted of genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel that was used to fill up the cavity. To seal the injury, a Good Manufacturing Practise (GMP)-compliant engineered silk fleece-membrane composite was applied and secured by the cross-linked hydrogel. Then, IVDs were exposed to one of three loading conditions: no load, static load and complex load in a two-degree-of-freedom bioreactor for 14 days. Followed by assessing DNA and matrix content, qPCR and histology, the injured discs were compared to an uninjured control IVD that underwent the same loading profiles. In addition, the genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel was further investigated with respect to cytotoxicity on human stem cells, annulus fibrosus, and nucleus pulposus cells; (3) Results: The repair was successful as no herniation could be detected for any of the three loading conditions. Disc height was not recovered by the repair DNA and matrix contents were comparable to a healthy, untreated control disc. Genipin resulted being cytotoxic in the in vitro test but did not show adverse effects when used for the organ culture model; (4) Conclusions: The current study indicated that the combination of the two biomaterials, i.e., genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel and an engineered silk scaffold, was a promising approach for IVD repair. Furthermore, genipin-enhanced fibrin hydrogel was not suitable for cell cultures; however, it was highly applicable as a filler material.

Differentiation of MSC and annulus fibrosus cells on genetically engineered silk fleece‐membrane‐composites enriched for GDF‐6 or TGF‐β3

“…Further, we observed that on day 14 and 21 the cells covered nearly all fiber surface what is again in accordance with mitochondrial activity and DNA content measurements. Hence, we attribute a high biocompatibility to the silk scaffolds tested . This is consistent with results from other groups, for example, Panilaitis et al Also, silk scaffolds produced from the same supplier showed previously very good cytocompatiblity…”

Genipin‐crosslinked decellularized annulus fibrosus hydrogels induces tissue‐specific differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells and intervertebral disc regeneration

“…Genipin, a broadly utilized and efficient synthetic chemical, has been proven to have the ability to improve mechanical properties of various biomaterials (Frauchiger et al, 2018). According to our findings, the modulus of DAF was gradually enhanced, as genipin concentration increased . However, when genipin concentration reached 0.04%, potential cytotoxicity was observed.…”

“…For example, appropriate ratio of various components (Wiltsey et al, 2013), supplementation of crosslinkers (Cruz et al, 2017), and so forth are all promising approaches for enhancing mechanical features. Genipin, a broadly utilized and efficient synthetic chemical, has been proven to have the ability to improve mechanical properties of various biomaterials (Frauchiger et al, 2018). According to our findings, the modulus of DAF was gradually enhanced, as genipin concentration increased 2018.…”

Functional cell phenotype induction with TGF-β1 and collagen-polyurethane scaffold for annulus fibrosus rupture repair

“…Additionally, with the IVD as a load-bearing tissue, the repair of the AF should not only restore its mechanical properties but also reproduce its biological integrity (Chu et al, 2018). Tissue engineering has been demonstrated to be a prospective approach for AF repair in the last few decades (Agnol et al, 2018;Borem et al, 2017;Frauchiger et al, 2018;Hussain et al, 2018;Pirvu et al, 2015). However, appropriate cell sources, growth factors and biomaterials for generation of functional and integrated AF tissue analogues are still unmet needs.…”