title: An amidated carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel for cartilage regeneration.
abstract: An amidic derivative of carboxymethylcellulose was synthesized (CMCA). The new polysaccharide was obtained by converting a large percentage of carboxylic groups ( approximately 50%) of carboxymethylcellulose into amidic groups rendering the macromolecule quite similar to hyaluronan. Then, the polysaccharide (CMCA) was crosslinked. The behavior of CMCA hydrogel towards normal human articular chondrocytes (NHAC) was in vitro studied monitoring the cell proliferation and synthesis of extra cellular matrix (ECM) components and compared with a hyaluronan based hydrogel (Hyal). An extracellular matrix rich in cartilage-specific collagen and proteoglycans was secreted in the presence of hydrogels. The injectability of the new hydrogels was also analysed. An experimental in vivo model was realized to study the effect of CMCA and Hyal hydrogels in the treatment of surgically created partial thickness chondral defects in the rabbit knee. The preliminary results pointed out that CMCA hydrogel could be considered as a potential compound for cartilage regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biosystem Sciences and Technologies and C.R.I.S.M.A., University of Siena, Via A. Moro N. 2, Siena 53100, Italy.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giardino
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barbucci
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D020100:Hydrogels; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium