A biomimetic extracellular matrix for cartilage tissue engineering centered on photocurable gelatin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate.
The development of hydrogels tailored for cartilage tissue engineering has been a research and clinical goal for over a decade. Directing cells towards a chondrogenic phenotype and promoting new matrix formation are significant challenges that must be overcome for the successful application of hydrogels in cartilage tissue therapies. Gelatin-methacrylamide (Gel-MA) hydrogels have shown promise for the repair of some tissues, but have not been extensively investigated for cartilage tissue engineering. We encapsulated human chondrocytes in Gel-MA-based hydrogels, and show that with the incorporation of small quantities of photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HA-MA), and to a lesser extent chondroitin sulfate methacrylate (CS-MA), chondrogenesis and mechanical properties can be enhanced. The addition of HA-MA to Gel-MA constructs resulted in more rounded cell morphologies, enhanced chondrogenesis as assessed by gene expression and immunofluorescence, and increased quantity and distribution of the newly synthesized extracellular matrix (ECM) throughout the construct. Consequently, while the compressive moduli of control Gel-MA constructs increased by 26 kPa after 8 weeks culture, constructs with HA-MA and CS-MA increased by 114 kPa. The enhanced chondrogenic differentiation, distribution of ECM, and improved mechanical properties make these materials potential candidates for cartilage tissue engineering applications.
['Levett|Peter A|PA|', 'Melchels|Ferry P W|FP|', 'Schrobback|Karsten|K|', 'Hutmacher|Dietmar W|DW|', 'Malda|Jos|J|', 'Klein|Travis J|TJ|']
D000818:Animals D040761:Biomimetic Materials D002356:Cartilage D002452:Cell Count D048430:Cell Shape D002470:Cell Survival D002478:Cells, Cultured D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates D055119:Elastic Modulus D005109:Extracellular Matrix D005780:Gelatin D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D006025:Glycosaminoglycans D006801:Humans D006820:Hyaluronic Acid D008027:Light D034421:Sus scrofa D023822:Tissue Engineering D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
Cartilage tissue engineering Gelatin Hyaluronic acid Hydrogels Photopolymerization