title: A scaffold-filter model for studying the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells in vitro.
abstract: This study was undertaken to explore the synergistic effect of scaffold materials and a cartilage-like environment on the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells. Because stem cells encapsulated in a cartilage scaffold will be induced by scaffold molecules as well as permeable molecules from the surroundings, it is impossible to optimize a chondro-inducible scaffold without considering environmental sensitivity. How do we know if a designed scaffold will be sufficient prior to implantation? In this study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) were seeded in various scaffolds, including collagen hydrogel, collage/sodium alginate hydrogel, collagen sponge and silk fibroin sponge. The cell-scaffold complex was encapsulated in a filter pocket to avoid direct contact with co-cultured chondrocytes. Scaffolds differed in the ability to adsorb inducible molecules expressed by chondrocytes, as evidenced by various expressions of cartilage specific proteins and genes. Collagen hydrogel unexpectedly supported chondrogenic differentiation in an environment filled with chondrocytes secretion better than other reinforced scaffolds, which is consistent with the previous experiment in vivo. This result indicated that the environmental sensitivity of a scaffold is important for in vivo chondro-induction. This in vitro scaffold-filter model may be useful as a precursor to investigate the chondro-inducing potential of various scaffolds for cartilage repair.
authors: College of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China; National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: ZHANG_Ling_vanessa@163.com.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: The Medical and Scientific Research Center of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zheng
authors: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Hong S
authors: HS
authors: Fan
authors: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Xing D
authors: XD
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans
keywords: Chondro-induction; Chondrocyte secretion; Collagen hydrogel; Filter membrane