title: Cartilage regeneration in SCID mice using a highly organized three-dimensional alginate scaffold.
abstract: Tissue engineering for cartilage regeneration provides an alternative to surgery for degenerative osteoarthritis. Recently, a highly organized three-dimensional (3D) alginate scaffold was prepared using a microfluidic device; this scaffold is effective for chondrocyte culture in vitro. The performance of this scaffold was further demonstrated; an alginate scaffold seeded with porcine chondrocytes was implanted in the dorsal subcutaneous site of SCID mice. The recipients were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after transplantation. The grafted implants retrieved from the subcutaneous site were analyzed with histologic examinations. Real-time PCR was used to identify the gene expression patterns of the chondrocytes. The hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the chondrocytes survived normally in SCID mice; cartilage-like structures were formed after 4 weeks implantation. Immunohistochemical staining revealed cells secreted type II collagen, produced glycosaminoglycans (proved by alcian blue stain), and maintained the expression of S-100. On the other hand, the cells were negative for type I and type X collagen staining. PCR showed that the mRNA expressions of aggrecan and type II collagen were up-regulated at weeks two and four, while type I and type X collagen were down-regulated during the study period. In summary, this highly organized 3D alginate scaffold provided a suitable environment and maintained functional phenotypes for chondrocytes in this animal study.
authors: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan. xavier-wang@yahoo.com.tw
authors: Chen-Chie
authors: CC
authors: Wang
authors: Kai-Chiang
authors: KC
authors: Yang
authors: Keng-Hui
authors: KH
authors: Lin
authors: Yen-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Liu
authors: Hwa-Chang
authors: HC
authors: Liu
authors: Feng-Huei
authors: FH
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D000464:Alginates; D024043:Collagen Type II; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid