Potential of 3-D tissue constructs engineered from bovine chondrocytes/silk fibroin-chitosan for in vitro cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

The use of cell-scaffold constructs is a promising tissue engineering approach to repair cartilage defects and to study cartilaginous tissue formation. In this study, silk fibroin/chitosan blended scaffolds were fabricated and studied for cartilage tissue engineering. Silk fibroin served as a substrate for cell adhesion and proliferation while chitosan has a structure similar to that of glycosaminoglycans, and shows promise for cartilage repair. We compared the formation of cartilaginous tissue in silk fibroin/chitosan blended scaffolds seeded with bovine chondrocytes and cultured in vitro for 2 weeks. The constructs were analyzed for cell viability, histology, extracellular matrix components glycosaminoglycan and collagen types I and II, and biomechanical properties. Silk fibroin/chitosan scaffolds supported cell attachment and growth, and chondrogenic phenotype as indicated by Alcian Blue histochemistry and relative expression of type II versus type I collagen. Glycosaminoglycan and collagen accumulated in all the scaffolds and was highest in the silk fibroin/chitosan (1:1) blended scaffolds. Static and dynamic stiffness at high frequencies was higher in cell-seeded constructs than non-seeded controls. The results suggest that silk/chitosan scaffolds may be a useful alternative to synthetic cell scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Scaffold Mean Pore Size Influences Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenic Differentiation and Matrix Deposition

“…The typically preferred cell types currently used for the investigation of chondrogenesis and cartilage tissue engineering (TE) are chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). 12,13 MSCs are a valuable multi-potent source of cells that are easily accessible. 14 They have been used in preclinical models for TE bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow stroma, tendon, fat and other connective tissues.…”

Stem Cell Research: A New Era for Reconstructive Surgery

“…Such combinations have also been used to create a 3-D structure with spatially-varying mechanical properties to mimic the native extra cellular matrix (ECM) composition. [27][28][29][30] Great progress has been achieved in cartilage tissue engineering during the past decades, however, some issues still remain in this area, for example the directed differentiation of stem cells, the simulation of actual physiological condition into the body, the integration of tissue engineered cartilage to the body, and so on. Growth factors have been found to be promising in the directed differentiation of stem cells.…”

Fibroin protein/chitosan scaffolds and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells culture in vitro

“…The two core materials of cartilage tissue engineering are carrier scaffolds and seed cells (Casper et al, 2010;Bhardwaj et al, 2011). Establishing good construction between the carrier scaffolds and the seed cells is a critical factor for efficient engineering (Tritz-Schiavi et al, 2010).…”