title: Evaluation of thermoreversible polymers containing fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9) for chondrocyte culture.
abstract: We previously evaluated a thermoreversible polymer gel composed of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid as a cell culture substrate and cell-delivery vehicle. The copolymer promoted phenotype expression and amplification of chondrocytes. In this study, we determined whether addition of fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9), which is mitogenic for chondrocytes, would further enhance cell proliferation and phenotype expression in the polymer. We tested the hypothesis that the thermoreversible polymer containing FGF-9 would promote increased chondrocyte proliferation and phenotype expression. Articular chondrocytes (1 x 10(5)/150 microL) were plated onto control (without gel) and gel containing 24-well plates. The gels were prepared in media alone or in media containing heparin (100 microg/mL) and FGF-9 (5 microg/mL). The cultures were incubated at 37 degrees C in 5% CO(2) for 3 days. Cells remained viable in the thermoreversible polymer in the presence or absence of FGF-9. Addition of FGF-9 to the copolymer did not induce proliferation and the cell numbers did not increase. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-determined expression of chondrocyte markers collagen type II and aggrecan. FGF-9 did not enhance chondrocyte proliferation nor alter the phenotype after 3 days in culture. These findings suggest the poly(NiPA-co-AAc) gel alone may provide the optimal 3D environment for propagation of chondrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 5601 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore, Maryland 21239, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polotsky
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krzyminski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutowska
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hungerford
authors.forename: Carmelita G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Frondoza
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C496459:FGF9 protein, human; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D011108:Polymers; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors