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Human chondroprogenitors in alginate–collagen hybrid scaffolds produce stable cartilage in vivo
Author(s) -
Studer Deborah,
Cavalli Emma,
Formica Florian A.,
Kuhn Gisela Anne,
Salzmann Gian,
Mumme Marcus,
Steinwachs Matthias R.,
LaurentApplegate Lee Ann,
ManiuraWeber Katharina,
ZenobiWong Marcy
Publication year - 2017
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.2203
Subject(s) - chondrogenesis , in vivo , mesenchymal stem cell , cartilage , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , matrix (chemical analysis) , in vitro , biomedical engineering , scaffold , regeneration (biology) , tissue engineering , cartilage oligomeric matrix protein , extracellular matrix , anatomy , pathology , biology , biochemistry , osteoarthritis , medicine , alternative medicine , chromatography
The goal of this study was to evaluate human epiphyseal chondroprogenitor cells (ECPs) as a potential new cell source for cartilage regeneration. ECPs were compared to human bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and human adult articular chondrocytes (ACs) for their chondrogenic potential and phenotypic stability in vitro and in vivo . The cells were seeded in Optimaix‐3D scaffolds at 5 × 10 4 cells/mm 3 and gene expression, matrix production and mechanical properties were analysed up to 6 weeks. In vitro , ECPs synthesized consistently high collagen 2 and low collagen 10. AC‐seeded constructs exhibited high donor variability in GAG/DNA values as well as in collagen 2 staining, but showed low collagen 10 production. MSCs, on the other hand, expressed high levels of collagen 2 but also of collagens 1 and 10, and were therefore not considered further. In vivo , there was considerable loss of matrix proteins in ECPs compared to in vitro cultured samples. To overcome this, a second implantation study investigated the effect of mixing cells with alginate prior to seeding in the scaffold. ECPs in alginate maintained their cartilage matrix and resisted mineralization and vessel infiltration better 6 weeks after subcutaneous implantation, whereas ACs lost their chondrogenic matrix completely. This study shows the great potential of ECPs as an off‐the‐shelf, highly chondrogenic cell type that produces stable cartilage in vivo . Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.