title: *Gelatin Scaffolds Containing Partially Sulfated Cellulose Promote Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenesis.
abstract: Articular cartilage has a limited capacity to heal after damage from injury or degenerative disease. Tissue engineering constructs that more closely mimic the native cartilage microenvironment can be utilized to promote repair. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a major component of the cartilage extracellular matrix, have the ability to sequester growth factors due to their level and spatial distribution of sulfate groups. This study evaluated the use of a GAG mimetic, cellulose sulfate, as a scaffolding material for cartilage tissue engineering. Cellulose sulfate can be synthesized to have a similar level and spatial distribution of sulfates as chondroitin sulfate C (CSC), the naturally occurring GAG. This partially sulfated cellulose (pSC) was incorporated into a fibrous gelatin construct by the electrospinning process. Scaffolds were characterized for fiber morphology and overall stability over time in an aqueous environment, growth factor interaction, and for supporting mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis in vitro. All scaffold groups had micron-sized fibers and maintained overall stability in aqueous environments. Increasing concentrations of the transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3) were detected on scaffolds with increasing pSC. MSC chondrogenesis was enhanced on the scaffold with the highest pSC concentration as seen with the highest collagen type II production, collagen type II immunostaining, expression of cartilage-specific genes, and ratio of collagen type II to collagen type I production. These studies demonstrated the potential of pSC sulfate as a scaffolding material for cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portocarrero Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Roseline
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Willis
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Treena Livingston
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Arinzeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C509044:TGFB3 protein, human; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D005780:Gelatin; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: cellulose sulfate; chondrogenesis; glycosaminoglycan mimetic; mesenchymal stem cells