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Chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell aggregates via controlled release of TGF‐β1 from incorporated polymer microspheres
Author(s) -
Solorio Loran D.,
Fu Andrew S.,
HernándezIrizarry Roberto,
Alsberg Eben
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.32440
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , mesenchymal stem cell , materials science , growth factor , cartilage , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , transforming growth factor , tissue engineering , cell growth , cell culture , chemistry , biology , anatomy , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , receptor
Aggregate culture is a useful method for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) in a three‐dimensional in vitro culture environment. Conventional aggregate culture, however, typically requires repeated growth factor supplementation during media changes, which is both expensive and time‐intensive. In addition, homogenous cell differentiation is limited by the diffusion of chondrogenic growth factor from the culture medium into the aggregate and peripheral cell consumption of the growth factor. We have engineered a technology to incorporate growth factor‐loaded polymer microspheres within hMSC aggregates themselves. Here, we report on the system's capacity to induce chondrogenesis via sustained delivery of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1). Cartilage formation after 3 weeks in the absence of externally supplied growth factor approached that of aggregates cultured by conventional methods. Chondrogenesis in the central region of the aggregates is enabled at TGF‐β1 levels much lower than those required by conventional culture using exogenously supplied TGF‐β1, which is likely a result of the system's ability to overcome limitations of growth factor diffusion from cell culture media surrounding the exterior of the aggregates. Importantly, the inclusion of growth factor‐releasing polymer microspheres in hMSC aggregates could enable in vivo chondrogenesis for cartilage tissue engineering applications without extensive in vitro culture. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010