title: Poly(ε-caprolactone)-based substrates bearing pendant small chemical groups as a platform for systemic investigation of chondrogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physiochemical properties of biomaterials play critical roles in dictating types of cell behaviour. In this study, a series of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-derived polymers bearing different small chemical groups was employed as a platform to evaluate chondrogenesis of different cell types.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thin films were prepared by spin-coating PCL derivatives. Rabbit articular chondrocytes (rACs) and rabbit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were seeded on to the films, and cell adhesion, proliferation, extracellular matrix production and gene expression were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of hydrophilic groups (-NH2 , -COOH, -OH and -C=O) promoted adhesion and proliferation of primary rACs and rMSCs. On these polymeric films, chondrogenesis of primary rACs depended on culture time. For passaged cells, re-differentiation was induced on these films by chondrogenic induction, but less for cells of passage 5 compared to passage 3. While films with hydrophilic groups favoured chondrocytic gene expression of both types of passaged cells, production of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was similar for those of passage 3 on all films, and PCL-CH3 film better supported GAG production for cells of passage 5. Under chondrogenic conditions, rMSCs were more efficient at GAG production on PCL and PCL-NH2 films.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that different cells displayed distinct responses to substrate surface chemistry, implying that cell-biomaterial interactions can be developmental stage dependent. This provides a novel perspective for developing biomaterials for cartilage regeneration.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Meidong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone