title: Mineralization behavior with mesenchymal stromal cells in a biomimetic hyaluronic acid-based scaffold.
abstract: A biomimetic hyaluronic acid (HA)-based polymer scaffold was analysed in vitro for its characteristics and potential to support mineralization as carrier-vehicle. Biomimetic apatite crystal nucleation on the scaffold surface was obtained by a fine control of the pH level that increased ionic solubility thus controlling apatite formation kinetic. Different concentrations of human mesenchymal stromal cells (h-MSCs) were seeded on the scaffold, osteogenesis was induced in the presence or absence of fibroblast growth factor -2 and mineralization was analysed at different time points. We found that only at the highest h-MSCs concentration tested, the cells were uniformly distributed inside and outside the scaffold and proliferation started to decrease from day 7. Electron microscopy analysis evidenced that h-MSCs produced extracellular matrix but did not establish a direct contact with the scaffold. We found mineralized calcium-positive areas mainly present along the backbone of the scaffold starting from day 21 and increasing at day 35. FGF-2 treatment did not accelerate or increase mineralization. Non-biomimetic HA-based control scaffold showed immature mineralized areas only at day 35. Our data demonstrate that the biomimetic treatment of an HA-based scaffold promotes a faster mineralization process suggesting its possible use in clinics as a support for improving bone repair.
authors.affiliation: SC Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manferdini
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Raucci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gabusi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squarzoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lisignoli
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid