title: In vitro chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells with silk scaffolds.
abstract: Human adipose-derived stem cells have shown chondrogenic differentiation potential in cartilage tissue engineering in combination with natural and synthetic biomaterials. In the present study, we hypothesized that porous aqueous-derived silk protein scaffolds would be suitable for chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells. Human adipose-derived stem cells were cultured up to 6 weeks, and cell proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were investigated and compared with those in conventional micromass culture. Cell proliferation, glycosaminoglycan, and collagen levels in aqueous-derived silk scaffolds were significantly higher than in micromass culture. Transcript levels of SOX9 and type II collagen were also upregulated in the cell-silk constructs at 6 weeks. Histological examination revealed that the pores of the silk scaffolds were filled with cells uniformly distributed. In addition, chondrocyte-specific lacunae formation was evident and distributed in the both groups. The results suggest the biodegradable and biocompatible three-dimensional aqueous-derived silk scaffolds provided an improved environment for chondrogenic differentiation compared to micromass culture.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors: Hyeon Joo
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Sang-Hyug
authors: SH
authors: Park
authors: Jennah
authors: J
authors: Durham
authors: Jeffrey M
authors: JM
authors: Gimble
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Kaplan
authors: Jason L
authors: JL
authors: Dragoo
keywords: adipose-derived stem cells; cartilage; chondrogenic differentiation; silk scaffolds