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In vitro and in vivo co‐culture of chondrocytes and bone marrow stem cells in photocrosslinked PCL–PEG–PCL hydrogels enhances cartilage formation
Author(s) -
Ko ChaoYin,
Ku KuanLin,
Yang ShuRui,
Lin TsaiYu,
Peng Sydney,
Peng YuShiang,
Cheng MingHuei,
Chu IMing
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.835
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-7005
pISSN - 1932-6254
DOI - 10.1002/term.1846
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , cartilage , chemistry , hyaline cartilage , self healing hydrogels , microbiology and biotechnology , regeneration (biology) , chondrocyte , tissue engineering , in vivo , bone marrow , biomedical engineering , in vitro , type ii collagen , anatomy , pathology , immunology , biology , osteoarthritis , articular cartilage , medicine , biochemistry , alternative medicine , organic chemistry
Chondrocytes (CH) and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are sources that can be used in cartilage tissue engineering. Co‐culture of CHs and BMSCs is a promising strategy for promoting chondrogenic differentiation. In this study, articular CHs and BMSCs were encapsulated in PCL–PEG–PCL photocrosslinked hydrogels for 4 weeks. Various ratios of CH:BMSC co‐cultures were investigated to identify the optimal ratio for cartilage formation. The results thus obtained revealed that co‐culturing CHs and BMSCs in hydrogels provides an appropriate in vitro microenvironment for chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage matrix production. Co‐culture with a 1:4 CH:BMSC ratio significantly increased the synthesis of GAGs and collagen. In vivo cartilage regeneration was evaluated using a co‐culture system in rabbit models. The co‐culture system exhibited a hyaline chondrocyte phenotype with excellent regeneration, resembling the morphology of native cartilage. This finding suggests that the co‐culture of these two cell types promotes cartilage regeneration and that the system, including the hydrogel scaffold, has potential in cartilage tissue engineering. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.