title: Developing an alginate/chitosan hybrid fiber scaffold for annulus fibrosus cells.
abstract: A fibrous scaffold made of alginate or alginate/chitosan was fabricated for annulus fibrosus (AF) cell culture using a wet-spinning and lyophilization technique. The scaffolds were evaluated using several in vitro tests. Scanning electron microscopy showed the scaffold fibers generally aligned in one direction with individual fiber diameters varying between 40-100 microm. The alginate/chitosan hybrid scaffold exhibited a slower degradation rate, while both scaffold types did not display any cyto-toxicity to 3T3 fibroblasts and could maintain canine AF cell growth. The AF cells retained their spherical shape within the fibrous scaffold at the beginning of the culture period and formed into cell clusters at later times. Specific extracellular matrix molecules, including collagen I, collagen II, and aggrecan, could be detected in the AF cell clusters. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using this hybrid alginate/chitosan scaffold for AF cell culture, and the potential application for intervertebral disc tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004285:Dogs; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan