title: Culture of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on of poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds: potential application for the tissue engineering of cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to the attractive properties of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) for tissue engineering, the aim was to determine the growth and differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in PLLA scaffolds and their potential use in the treatment of cartilage diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  MSCs were cultured in PLLA films and thin porous membranes to study adherence and proliferation. Permeability and porosity were determined for the different scaffolds employed. The optimal conditions for cell seeding were first determined, as well as cell density and distribution inside the PLLA. Scaffolds were then maintained in expansion or chondrogenic differentiation media for 21 days. Apoptosis, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation was assessed after 21 days in culture by immunohistochemistry. Mechanical characteristics of scaffolds were determined before and after cell seeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MSCs uniformly adhered to PLLA films as well as to porous membranes. Proliferation was detected only in monolayers of pure PLLA, but was no longer detected after 10 days. Mechanical characterization of PLLA scaffolds showed differences in the apparent compression elastic modulus for the two sizes used. After determining high efficiencies of seeding, the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) was determined and contained aggrecan and collagens type I and X. ECM produced by the cells induced a twofold increase in the apparent elastic modulus of the composite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biocompatible PLLA scaffolds have been developed that can be efficiently loaded with MSCs. The scaffold supports chondrogenic differentiation and ECM deposition that improves the mechanics of the scaffold. Although this improvement does not met the expectations of a hyaline-like cartilage ECM, in part due to the lack of a mechanical stimulation, their potential use in the treatment of cartilage pathologies encourages to improve the mechanical component.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, 31080, Pamplona, Spain. inizal@unav.es
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izal
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanz-Ramos
authors.forename: Purificación
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripalda
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Froilán
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granero-Moltó
authors.forename: Harmony
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deplaine
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ribelles
authors.forename: Gloria Gallego
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Aznar
authors.forename: Enrique J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monleón-Pradas
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doblaré
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prósper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053674:Aggrecans / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024121:Collagen Type X; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)