Long-term mechanical loading of chondrocyte-chitosan biocomposites in vitro enhanced their proteoglycan and collagen content.
One major problem in cartilage tissue engineering is the insufficient biochemical composition of the generated biocomposites. The aim of this study was to improve the collagen and proteoglycan deposition in tissue engineering constructs by application of long-term mechanical loading in culture. Chondrocyte-seeded chitosan biocomposites revealed a homogenous cell distribution, high viability (>95%) and maintenance of a rounded cell shape typical for chondrocytes over 3 weeks of load-free culture. Cyclic compression of chitosan biocomposites (0.1 Hz, amplitude 5-15%, 45 min on and 315 min off) was applied after two different preculture times (3, 21 days) for 3 weeks. At day 42 this resulted in enhanced mRNA levels for aggrecan and a significantly higher specific proteoglycan (5-fold, p<0.0002) and collagen type II (2-fold, p<0.02) deposition compared to unloaded controls. In sum, the chitosan scaffold was highly attractive for cartilage tissue engineering approaches and mechanical loading allowed to further improve the biochemical composition of these biocomposites.
Fehrenbacher
Andreas
A
Division of Experimental Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Steck
Eric
E
Roth
Wolfgang
W
Pahmeier
Andrea
A
Richter
Wiltrud
W
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000378:metabolism*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis; D023421:Models, Animal; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D024043:Collagen Type II; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048271:Chitosan