title: Regenerative Intervertebral Disc Endplate Based on Biomimetic Three-dimensional Scaffolds.
abstract: METHODS
  Fabrication and characterization of a regenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) cartilaginous endplate (CEP) based on tissue culturing on biomimetic scaffolds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To fabricate a regenerative CEP to support nutrients and metabolites exchange between IVD and the milieu interior.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CEP is the only pathway for most cells inside IVD to obtain nutrients and to eliminate metabolites. However, CEP usually fails at the same time when IVD degenerates. Therefore, reconstruction of CEP becomes an inevitable part of IVD regeneration. In this work, a novel regenerative CEP is fabricated to support nutrients and metabolites exchange of IVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional scaffolds were fabricated by crosslinking of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and type II collagen. Then chondrocytes were cultured on the scaffolds. The obtained tissue was then investigated by scanning electron microscope, mechanical tests, and immunohistochemistry tests. In the end, glucose and lactic acid diffusion was carried out to test its nutrients and metabolites exchanging property.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scanning electron microscopy investigations show that the 3-dimensional scaffold has microporous structure. After cell culturing, the inner structure of the obtained product becomes compact. Mechanical tests show that the obtained tissue has strong mechanical property. Immunohistochemistry tests show that the chemical compositions of the fabricated regenerative CEP are the same as its natural counterpart. Moreover, glucose and lactic acid diffuse through the regenerative CEP successfully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fabricated regenerative CEP shows features similar to its natural counterpart. As the most important function, nutrients and metabolites exchange is verified on it as well. This regenerative CEP may play an important role in overall fabrication of regenerative IVD in near future.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.|Department of Orthopedics, Zigong No.4 People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dechao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuchuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongqin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaocong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Nanchong Central Hospital, Second Clinical Institute of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan, the People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds