title: Cartilaginous extracellular matrix-modified chitosan hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering.
abstract: Cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as type-II collagen (Col II) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) play a crucial role in chondrogenesis. However, direct clinical use of natural Col II or CS as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering is limited by their instability and rapid enzymatic degradation. Here, we investigate the incorporation of Col II and CS into injectable chitosan hydrogels designed to gel upon initiation by exposure to visible blue light (VBL) in the presence of riboflavin. Unmodified chitosan hydrogel supported proliferation and deposition of cartilaginous ECM by encapsulated chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. The incorporation of native Col II or CS into chitosan hydrogels further increased chondrogenesis. The incorporation of Col II, in particular, was found to be responsible for the enhanced cellular condensation and chondrogenesis observed in modified hydrogels. This was mediated by integrin α10 binding to Col II, increasing cell-matrix adhesion. These findings demonstrate the potential of cartilage ECM-modified chitosan hydrogels as biomaterials to promote cartilage regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Prosthodontics, ‡Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Bogyu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soyon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058105:Polymerization / Q000528:radiation effects; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D020100:Hydrogels; D016023:Integrins; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: cartilage tissue engineering; chitosan; chondroitin sulfate; hydrogels; photopolymerization; type-II collagen