title: In vitro and in vivo co-culture of chondrocytes and bone marrow stem cells in photocrosslinked PCL-PEG-PCL hydrogels enhances cartilage formation.
abstract: Chondrocytes (CH) and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are sources that can be used in cartilage tissue engineering. Co-culture of CHs and BMSCs is a promising strategy for promoting chondrogenic differentiation. In this study, articular CHs and BMSCs were encapsulated in PCL-PEG-PCL photocrosslinked hydrogels for 4 weeks. Various ratios of CH:BMSC co-cultures were investigated to identify the optimal ratio for cartilage formation. The results thus obtained revealed that co-culturing CHs and BMSCs in hydrogels provides an appropriate in vitro microenvironment for chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage matrix production. Co-culture with a 1:4 CH:BMSC ratio significantly increased the synthesis of GAGs and collagen. In vivo cartilage regeneration was evaluated using a co-culture system in rabbit models. The co-culture system exhibited a hyaline chondrocyte phenotype with excellent regeneration, resembling the morphology of native cartilage. This finding suggests that the co-culture of these two cell types promotes cartilage regeneration and that the system, including the hydrogel scaffold, has potential in cartilage tissue engineering. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kuan-Lin
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Division of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-Rui
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tsai-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Division of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China. chuiming123@gmail.com.
authors.forename: I-Ming
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C000595213:polyethylene glycol 400
keywords: autologous cell; bone marrow stem cells; cartilage; co-culture; hydrogels; tissue engineering