title: Platelet-rich plasma combined with agarose as a bioactive scaffold to enhance cartilage repair: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether the platelet-rich plasma-agarose gel scaffold could be a bioactive scaffold capable of growth factors release for cartilage repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Porcine chondrocytes were seeded in agarose gel and platelet-rich plasma-agarose gel. During the 28-days culture, microstructure of hydrogels and morphologies of chondrocytes seeded in the hydrogels were observed using scanning electron microscope; viability of chondrocytes in gels was examined by live/dead assay; qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycosaminoglycan, collagen and DNA were assessed by histological, immunohistochemical staining and biochemical assay; gene expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In vitro cartilage ring models were used to evaluate the integration of the scaffolds, and the integration strength was analyzed by mechanical push-out tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scanning electron microscope revealed both scaffolds had highly uniform porous structure. Live/dead scaffolds showed 100% cells alive in both groups. After 28-days culture, glycosaminoglycan, collagen, DNA content and chondrocyte-related genes expression in platelet-rich plasma-agarose gel were significantly higher than pure agarose gel. Integration strength in platelet-rich plasma-agarose gel was also higher compared to pure agarose gel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet-rich plasma showed a positive effect on chondrocytes proliferation, differentiation and integration between native cartilage and engineered tissue when combined with agarose gel. Our findings suggest that platelet-rich plasma-agarose gel scaffold is a promising bioactive scaffold for future cartilage tissue engineering and future clinical works.
authors.affiliation: 1Orthopaedic Laboratory of Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zhaowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yiqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Linzi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Junxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jianchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016062:Porosity; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012685:Sepharose / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D012685:Sepharose
keywords: Platelet-rich plasma; agarose; cartilage repair; scaffold