[In vitro studies on tissue engineered intervertebral disc].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of tissue engineered intervertebral disc for regeneration of discs.


METHODS
A three-dimensional porous poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold was fabricated by temperature induced phase separation method. Human fetal disc cells were isolated and cultured in vitro. The disc cells labeled with a PKH-26 fluorescent dye were seeded into a three-dimensional porous scaffold. The proliferation of disc cells with PKH-26 fluorescent labels was assessed by using MTT uptake, laser fluorescence microscopy and SEM.


RESULTS
Human fetal disc cells displayed a polygonal shape in primary monolayer culture. A regular arrangement and microtubules orientation-structure scaffold with 50-300 microm in diameter was fabricated by thermal-induced phase separation technique. MTT uptake and fluorescent microscopy examination indicated that the seeded disc cells were viable and showed proliferation activity within a porous scaffold.


CONCLUSIONS
The above findings support potential applications of tissue engineered disc in treatment of disc degenerative diseases.
Zhang
Chao
C
Departmant of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, 100037, P. R China. zcmail2002@yahoo.com.cn
Ruan
Dike
D
Zhang
Rongfeng
R
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C070080:PKH 26; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid