title: Enhanced chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in collagen mimetic peptide-mediated microenvironment.
abstract: A new type of synthetic hydrogel scaffold that mimics certain aspects of structure and function of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) has been developed. We previously reported the conjugation of collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) to poly(ethylene oxide) diacrylate (PEODA) to create a polymer-peptide hybrid scaffold for a suitable cell microenvironment. In this study, we showed that the CMP-mediated microenvironment enhances the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were harvested and photo-encapsulated in CMP-conjugated PEODA (CMP/PEODA). After 3 weeks, the histological and biochemical analysis of the CMP/PEODA gel revealed twice as much glycosaminoglycan and collagen contents as in control PEODA hydrogels. Moreover, MSCs cultured in CMP/PEODA hydrogel exhibited a lower level of hypertrophic markers, core binding factor alpha 1, and type X collagen than MSCs in PEODA hydrogel as revealed by gene expression and immunohistochemisty. These results indicate that CMP/PEODA hydrogel provides a favorable microenvironment for encapsulated MSCs and regulates their downstream chondrogenic differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
authors.forename: H Janice
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Thanissara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chansakul
authors.forename: Nathaniel S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Shyni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Seungju M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Elisseeff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003094:Collagen