Open AccessElectrospun scaffold containing TGF‐β1 promotes human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards a nucleus pulposus‐like phenotype under hypoxia
Author(s) -
Cui Xiang,
Liu Minghan,
Wang Jiaxu,
Zhou Yue,
Xiang Qiang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
iet nanobiotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1751-875X
DOI - 10.1049/iet-nbt.2014.0006
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , aggrecan , chemistry , nucleus , phenotype , electrospinning , hypoxia (environmental) , tissue engineering , cellular differentiation , scaffold , stem cell , biomedical engineering , pathology , biology , medicine , biochemistry , osteoarthritis , gene , oxygen , polymer , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , articular cartilage
The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of electrospun scaffold containing TGF‐β1 on promoting human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation towards a nucleus pulposus‐like phenotype under hypoxia. Two kinds of nanofibrous scaffolds containing TGF‐β1 were fabricated using uniaxial electrospinning (Group I) and coaxial electrospinning (Group II). Human MSCs were seeded on both kinds of scaffolds and cultured in a hypoxia chamber (2% O 2 ), and then the scaffolds were characterised. Cell proliferation and differentiation were also evaluated after 3 weeks of cell culture. Results showed that both kinds of scaffolds shared similar diameter distributions and protein release. However, Group I scaffolds were more hydrophilic than that of Group II. Both kinds of scaffolds induced the MSCs to differentiate towards the nucleus pulposus‐type phenotype in vitro . In addition, the expression of nucleus pulposus‐associated genes (aggrecan, type II collagen, HIF‐1α and Sox‐9) in Group I increased more than that of Group II. These results indicate that electrospinning nanofibrous scaffolds containing TGF‐β1 supports the differentiation of MSCs towards the pulposus‐like phenotype in a hypoxia chamber, which would be a more appropriate choice for nucleus pulposus regeneration.