A collagen sponge incorporating a hydroxyapatite/chondroitinsulfate composite as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.
Because cartilage has limited potential for self-repair, tissue engineering is expected to replace the present therapies for damaged cartilage, such as total knee arthroplasty. However, scaffolds suitable for cartilage tissue engineering have not been established. We synthesized a novel porous scaffold, a collagen sponge incorporating a hydroxyapatite/chondroitinsulfate composite (pCol-HAp/ChS), containing materials which resemble extracellular matrices in bone and cartilage tissues. In this report, the physical, mechanical and biological properties of the scaffold are compared with those of a collagen sponge (pCol) and pCol incorporating a hydroxyapatite composite (pCol-HAp). HAp/ChS had smaller crystals and a larger total surface area than HAp. SEM images of the three materials showed pCol-HAp/ChS to have the roughest surface. The mechanical properties suggest that pCol-HAp/ChS and pCol/HAp are similar, and superior to pCol. Seeding experiments showed a uniform distribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in pCol-HAp/ChS and pCol/HAp. Histochemical staining after 2 weeks of culture revealed pCol-HAp/ChS to be the most chondrogenic. From these results, pCol-HAp/ChS is expected to be a candidate for a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering in place of collagen sponge.
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.
Yohimi
Y
Ohyabu
Takuro
T
Adegawa
Tomohiko
T
Yoshioka
Toshiyuki
T
Ikoma
Kazuo
K
Shinozaki
Toshimasa
T
Uemura
Junzo
J
Tanaka
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002807:Chondroitin; D003094:Collagen; D017886:Durapatite