Abstract
Tendon injuries still pose a challenge to reconstructive surgeons. Tendon tissue is a bradytrophic tissue and has a poor tendency to heal. Autologous tendon grafts are, therefore, still the gold standard in restorative operations but are associated with significant donor side morbidity. The experimental approach of the present study focused on the use of the biomaterial spider silk as a biocompatible and very stable carrier matrix in combination with a collagen type I hydrogel and adipose-derived stromal cells. The constructs were differentiated by axial strain to tendon-like tissue using a custom-made bioreactor. Macroscopically, tendon-like tissue could be detected which histologically showed high cell vitality even in long-term cultivation. In addition, cell morphology comparable to tenocytes could be detected in the bioreactor-stimulated tendon-like constructs compared to the controls. Immunohistochemically, tendon tissue-specific markers could be detected. Therefore, the developed tendon-like construct represents a promising approach towards patient specific tendon reconstruction, but further studies are needed.
Highlights
Tendons and ligaments are among the most important structures in the locomotive system
A tendon-like constructs (TLC) was developed based on collagen type I hydrogel, Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASC) and spider silk scaffolds
Handmade spider silk scaffolds were seeded as mentioned with a combination of rat collagen type I hydrogel and ASC
Summary
Tendons and ligaments are among the most important structures in the locomotive system. Applied strain results in straightening, realignment and sliding of tendon and, collagen fibers, subjecting tenocyte nuclei under strain [13,14]. This consecutively leads to interference of their mechanotransduction pathways and fibril alignment [15]. Matching the mechanical properties of a scaffold to those of native ECM is important to ensure that tissue growth is not limited by mechanical failure of the scaffold [7] Based on these necessities, a potential biomaterial for tissue engineering of tendon tissue could be spider silk due to its unrivaled biomechanical properties. Spider silk has shown a very good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo [21,22]
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