title: The use of fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) hybrid scaffold for articular cartilage tissue engineering: an in vivo analysis.
abstract: Our preliminary results indicated that fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) hybrid scaffold promoted early chondrogenesis of articular cartilage constructs in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo cartilaginous tissue formation by chondrocyte-seeded fibrin/PLGA hybrid scaffolds. PLGA scaffolds were soaked carefully, in chondrocyte-fibrin suspension, and polymerized by dropping thrombin-calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution. PLGA-seeded chondrocytes were used as a control. Resulting constructs were implanted subcutaneously, at the dorsum of nude mice, for 4 weeks. Macroscopic observation, histological evaluation, gene expression and sulphated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) analyses were performed at each time point of 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation. Cartilaginous tissue formation in fibrin/PLGA hybrid construct was confirmed by the presence of lacunae and cartilage-isolated cells embedded within basophilic ground substance. Presence of proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in fibrin/PLGA hybrid constructs was confirmed by positive Safranin O and Alcian Blue staining. Collagen type II exhibited intense immunopositivity at the pericellular matrices. Chondrogenic properties were further demonstrated by the expression of gene encoded cartilage-specific markers, collagen type II and aggrecan core protein. The sGAG production in fibrin/PLGA hybrid constructs was higher than in the PLGA group. In conclusion, fibrin/PLGA hybrid scaffold promotes cartilaginous tissue formation in vivo and may serve as a potential cell delivery vehicle and a structural basis for articular cartilage tissue-engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munirah
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B Hi
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ruszymah
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010641:Phenotype; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C013786:A73025; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D005337:Fibrin