title: Effects of Composition and Mechanical Property of Injectable Collagen I/II Composite Hydrogels on Chondrocyte Behaviors.
abstract: Satisfactory repair of damaged articular cartilage is still a challenge, while tissue engineering provides a promising strategy. Collagen-based hydrogels have been widely applied in cartilage tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility. In this study, type I collagen and type II collagen were selected to prepare physically crosslinked composite hydrogels by self-assembly of collagen, and the effects of their physicochemical properties on chondrocyte phenotype maintenance and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion were investigated. First, the microstructure of hydrogels was observed by a scanning electron microscope, and the compressive modulus was measured by a dynamic mechanical analyzer. Then, chondrocytes were encapsulated in hydrogels and detected by Live/Dead staining. The secretion of ECM was qualitatively estimated by histological staining and quantitatively analyzed by sulfated glycosaminoglycans and DNA content detection. Finally, cartilage-specific gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The results showed that the microstructure and mechanical property of hydrogels were relevant to the composition of composite hydrogels. The compressive modulus of hydrogels improved with the increase of type I collagen content in the hydrogels. Chondrocytes could maintain their round or oval morphology and secrete cartilage-specific ECM in the four groups of hydrogels, but higher the compressive modulus of composite hydrogels, the more ECM secretion of chondrocytes.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Bao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Jirong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Yilu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Likun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Hongsong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Yujiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Xingdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007267:Injections; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034421:Sus scrofa; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D020100:Hydrogels