title: Human-like collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite scaffolds for the culture of chondrocytes.
abstract: Three dimensional (3D) biodegradable porous scaffolds play a key role in cartilage tissue repair. Freeze-drying and cross-linking techniques were used to fabricate a 3D composite scaffold that combined the excellent biological characteristics of human-like collagen (HLC) and the outstanding mechanical properties of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA). The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and compression tests, using Relive® Artificial Bone (RAB) scaffolds as a control. HLC/nHA scaffolds displayed homogeneous interconnected macroporous structure and could withstand a compression stress of 2.67 ± 0.37 MPa, which was higher than that of the control group. Rabbit chondrocytes were seeded on the composite porous scaffolds and cultured for 21 days. Cell/scaffold constructs were examined using SEM, histological procedures, and biochemical assays for cell proliferation and the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The results indicated that HLC/nHA porous scaffolds were capable of encouraging cell adhesion, homogeneous distribution and abundant GAG synthesis, and maintaining natural chondrocyte morphology compared to RAB scaffolds. In conclusion, the presented data warrants the further exploration of HLC/nHA scaffolds as a potential biomimetic platform for chondrocytes in cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Zhiguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. Electronic address: fandaidi@nwu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Daidi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019245:Compressive Strength; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C509317:nano-hydroxyapatite-collagen; D003094:Collagen; D017886:Durapatite