title: Evaluation of a mPEG-polyester-based hydrogel as cell carrier for chondrocytes.
abstract: Temperature-sensitive hydrogels are attractive alternatives to porous cell-seeded scaffolds and is minimally invasive through simple injection and in situ gelling. In this study, we compared the performance of two types of temperature-sensitive hydrogels on chondrocytes encapsulation for the use of tissue engineering of cartilage. The two hydrogels are composed of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)- poly(lactic-co-valerolactone) (mPEG-PVLA), and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic- co-glycolide) (mPEG-PLGA). Osmolarity and pH were optimized through the manipulation of polymer concentration and dispersion medium. Chondrocytes proliferation in mPEG-PVLA hydrogels was observed as well as accumulation of GAGs and collagen. On the other hand, chondrocytes encapsulated in mPEG-PLGA hydrogels showed low viability and chondrogenesis. Also, mPEG-PVLA hydrogel, which is more hydrophobic, retained physical integrity after 14 days while mPEG-PLGA hydrogel underwent full degradation due to faster hydrolysis rate and more pronounced acidic self-catalyzed degradation. The mPEG-PVLA hydrogel can be furthered tuned by manipulation of molecular weights to obtain hydrogels with different swelling and degradation characteristics, which may be useful as producing a selection of hydrogels compatible with different cell types. Taken together, these results demonstrate that mPEG-PVLA hydrogels are promising to serve as three-dimensional cell carriers for chondrocytes and potentially applicable in cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shu-Rui
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chao-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yu-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: I-Ming
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D044367:Phase Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012996:Solutions; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D012996:Solutions; C558447:methoxypolyethyleneglycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C028210:monomethoxypolyethylene glycol
keywords: cartilage; chondrocyte; hydrogel; mPEG-polyester; scaffold