title: Biological performance of cell-encapsulated methacrylated gellan gum-based hydrogels for nucleus pulposus regeneration.
abstract: Limitations of current treatments for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration have promoted interest in the development of tissue-engineering approaches. Injectable hydrogels loaded with cells can be used as a substitute material for the inner IVD part, the nucleus pulposus (NP), and provide an opportunity for minimally invasive treatment of IVD degeneration. The NP is populated by chondrocyte-like cells; therefore, chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), stimulated to differentiate along the chondrogenic lineage, could be used to promote NP regeneration. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo response of human bone marrow-derived MSCs and nasal chondrocytes (NCs) to modified gellan gum-based hydrogels was investigated. Both ionic- (iGG-MA) and photo-crosslinked (phGG-MA) methacrylated gellan gum hydrogels show no cytotoxicity in extraction assays with MSCs and NCs. Furthermore, the materials do not induce pro-inflammatory responses in endothelial cells. Moreover, MSCs and NCs can be encapsulated into the hydrogels and remain viable for at least 2 weeks, although apoptosis is observed in phGG-MA. Importantly, encapsulated MSCs and NCs show signs of in vivo chondrogenesis in a subcutaneous implantation of iGG-MA. Altogether, the data endorse the potential use of modified gellan gum-based hydrogel as a suitable material in NP tissue engineering. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: REPAIR Lab, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsaryk
authors.affiliation: 3Bs Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva-Correia
authors.affiliation: 3Bs Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joaquim Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: REPAIR Lab, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Department for Oral, Cranio-maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Landes
authors.affiliation: REPAIR Lab, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brochhausen
authors.affiliation: REPAIR Lab, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.|Department for Oral, Cranio-maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Medical Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghanaati
authors.affiliation: 3Bs Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal.|ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: REPAIR Lab, Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016513:Mice, SCID; D000070614:Nucleus Pulposus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D008689:Methacrylates; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C048288:gellan gum
keywords: gellan gum; hydrogel; intervertebral disc; mesenchymal stem cells; nasal chondrocytes; nucleus pulposus