title: Cell-derived polymer/extracellular matrix composite scaffolds for cartilage regeneration, Part 1: investigation of cocultures and seeding densities for improved extracellular matrix deposition.
abstract: This study investigated the coculture of chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on electrospun fibrous polymer scaffolds to produce polymer/extracellular matrix (ECM) hybrid constructs with the objective of reducing the number of chondrocytes necessary to produce ample cartilage-like ECM within the scaffolds. To generate these hybrid constructs, electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone) fibrous scaffolds were seeded at both high and low initial densities with five different ratios of chondrocytes to MSCs: 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, and 0:1, and cultured for 7, 14, and 21 days. Glycosaminoglycan production and distribution within the three coculture groups was similar to quantities generated by chondrocyte-only controls. Conversely, as the concentration of chondrocytes was increased, the collagen content of the constructs also increased at each time point, with a 1:1 chondrocyte to MSC ratio approximating the collagen production of chondrocytes alone. Histological staining suggested that cocultured constructs mimicked the well-distributed ECM patterns of chondrocyte generated constructs, while improving greatly over the restricted distribution of matrix within MSC-only constructs. These results support the capacity of cocultures of chondrocytes and MSCs to generate cartilaginous matrix within a polymeric scaffold. Further, the inclusion of MSCs in these cocultures enables the reduction of chondrocytes needed to produce cell-generated ECM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University , Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erica J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Levorson
authors.forename: Paschalia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mountziaris
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: F Kurtis
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mikos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA