XXXX Alginate Gels as Stem Cell Matrix - Making Paracrine Stem Cell Activity Available for Enhanced Healing after Surgery.

@entity1 @entity16977 @entity30367 @entity23625 @entity460 @entity968
UNASSIGNED: Regeneration after surgery can be improved by the administration of anabolic growth factors. However, to locally maintain these factors at the site of regeneration is problematic. The aim of this study was to develop a matrix system containing @entity1 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which can be applied to the surgical site and allows the secretion of endogenous healing factors from the cells. @entity460 alginate gels were prepared by a combination of internal and external gelation. The gelling behaviour, mechanical stability, surface adhesive properties and injectability of the gels were investigated. The permeability of the gels for growth factors was analysed using bovine serum albumin and @entity16977 as model proteins. @entity1 MSCs were isolated, cultivated and seeded into the alginate gels. Cell viability was determined by @entity30367 assay and fluorescence microscopy. The release of @entity1 @entity23625 from the cells was determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Gels with sufficient mechanical properties were prepared which remained injectable through a syringe and solidified in a sufficient time frame after application. Surface adhesion was improved by the addition of @entity968 300,000 and hyaluronic acid. @entity1 MSCs remained viable for the duration of 6 weeks within the gels. @entity1 @entity23625 was found in quantifiable concentrations in cell culture supernatants of gels loaded with MSCs and incubated for a period of 6 weeks. This work shows that @entity460 alginate gels can function as immobilization matrices for @entity1 MSCs.
