title: Evaluation of the ability of natural and synthetic scaffolds in providing an appropriate environment for growth and chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although progenitor cells have been observed in articular cartilage, this part has a limited ability to repair due to a lack of blood supply. Formerly, tissue engineering was mainly based on collecting chondrocytes from the joint surface, culturing them on resorbable scaffolds such as poly D, L-lactic glycolic acid (PLGA) and then autologous transplantation. In recent times, due to difficulties in collecting chondrocytes, most of the researchers are focused on stem cells for producing these cells. Among the important factors in this approach, is using appropriate scaffolds with good mechanical and biological properties to provide optimal environment for growth and development of stem cells. In this study, we evaluated the potential of fibrin glue, PLGA and alginate scaffolds in providing a suitable environment for growth and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the presence of transforming growth factor-β3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fibrin glue, PLGA and alginate scaffolds were prepared and MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissue. Cells were cultured separately on the scaffolds and 2 weeks after differentiation, chondrogenic genes, cell proliferation ability and morphology in each scaffold were evaluated using real time-polymerase chain reaction, MTT chondrogenic assay and histological examination, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferation of differentiated adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) to chondrogenic cells in Fibrin glue were significantly higher than in other scaffolds. Also, Fibrin glue caused the highest expression of chondrogenic genes compared to the other scaffolds. Histological examination revealed that the pores of the Fibrin glue scaffolds were filled with cells uniformly distributed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that natural scaffolds such as fibrin can be used as an appropriate environment for cartilage differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell, The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheykhhasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell, The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza Tabatabaei
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Qomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell, The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalhor
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Faculty, Babol Medical Science University, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell, The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghiasi
keywords: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; L-lactic glycolic acid; Stem cells; alginate; fibrin glue; growth factors; poly D; stem cell research; tissue engineering