Hydrophilic gelatin and hyaluronic acid-treated PLGA scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.
Tissue engineering provides a new strategy for repairing damaged cartilage. Surface and mechanical properties of scaffolds play important roles in inducing cell growth.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize PLGA and gelatin/hyaluronic acid-treated PLGA (PLGA-GH) sponge scaffolds for articular cartilage tissue engineering.


METHODS
The PLGA-GH scaffolds were cross-linked with gelatin and hyaluronic acid. Primary chondrocytes isolated from porcine articular cartilages were used to assess cell compatibility. The characteristic PLGA-GH scaffold was higher in water uptake ratio and degradation rate within 42 days than the PLGA scaffold.


RESULTS
The mean compressive moduli of PLGA and PLGA-GH scaffolds were 1.72 ± 0.50 MPa and 1.86 ± 0.90 MPa, respectively. The cell attachment ratio, proliferation, and extracellular matrix secretion on PLGA-GH scaffolds are superior to those of PLGA scaffolds.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, PLGA-GH scaffolds exhibited improvements in cell biocompatibility, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix synthesis, and appropriate mechanical and structural properties for potential engineering cartilage applications.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City - Taiwan.
Nai-Jen
NJ
Chang
Yi-Ru
YR
Jhung
Chih-Kai
CK
Yao
Ming-Long
ML
Yeh
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005780:Gelatin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid