Tissue-engineered cartilage on biodegradable macroporous scaffolds: cell shape and phenotypic expression.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to establish in vitro culture of chondrocytes on biodegradable, poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA] scaffolds.


METHODS
Laboratory experiment using cartilage of rat rib and biodegradable scaffolds.


METHODS
Chondrocytes were cultured on a poly-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (poly-HEMA)-coated dish, proliferated, and transferred into the PLGA scaffolds. Phenotypic expression of cells was examined according to the condition of poly-HEMA coating. Morphological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical characteristics of cells cultured within PLGA scaffolds were also examined.


RESULTS
Chondrocytes cultured on a poly-HEMA-coated dish aggregated into distinct nodules containing large clusters of spherical cells and showed cartilage-specific phenotype, collagen type II. The results of immunostaining andreverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of cells cultured within PLGA scaffolds showed cartilage-specific morphological appearance and structural characteristics such as lacunae and expression of collagen type II.


CONCLUSIONS
The chondrocytes cultured on a poly-HEMA-coated dish and PLGA scaffolds showed chondrocyte-specific phenotypes and morphological appearance.
Baek
Chung-Hwan
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chbaek@smc.samsung.co.kr
Lee
Jong-Chan
JC
Jung
Yong-Gi
YG
Ko
Ye-Jeung
YJ
Yoon
Jun Jin
JJ
Park
Tae Gwan
TG
D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010641:Phenotype; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011108:Polymers; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D024043:Collagen Type II; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid