title: Chondrocyte-biocompatibility of DegraPol-foam: in vitro evaluations.
abstract: Histological and biochemical investigations were carried out in order to evaluate the chondrocyte compatibility of a recently developed biodegradable polyesterurethane-foam (DegraPol-foam). Therefore, cell adhesion, cell growth, and the preservation of chondrocyte phenotype was measured in rat xyphoid chondrocytes seeded on DegraPol-foam. Chondrocytes, isolated from xyphoids of adult male rats, exhibited relatively high cell adhesion on DegraPol-foam (about 60% of that found on TCPS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that chondrocytes grew on the surface and into the open cell pores of the foam. Morphologically, cells found on the surface of the foam exhibited a flat cell appearance and built a confluent cell multilayer. In contrast, the interior of the foam cells showed rounded morphology in cell aggregates and cell islets. In addition, chondrocytes proliferated on the DegraPol-foam (doubling-time of about 12.5 days) and preserved their phenotype for up to 14 days. Compared to freshly isolated chondrocytes, cells seeded on the foam produced high concentrations of collagen type II for up to 2 weeks: the ratio of type II/I collagen was 1.2-1.4 fold higher than the ratio found in freshly isolated cells. No significant difference was observed in chondroitin sulfate levels produced by freshly isolated cells and cells cultured on DegraPol-foam for up to 14 days. To sum up, our results indicate that DegraPol-foam is a compatible substrate for chondrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, and Institute of Polymers, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tun-Kyi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Welti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmutz
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Uhlschmid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuenschwander
authors.forename: U W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Suter
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010641:Phenotype; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014989:Xiphoid Bone / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; C104154:DegraPol; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates