Tailored PVA/ECM scaffolds for cartilage regeneration.

Elena Stocco,Silvano Lora,Marcella Folin,Daniele Dalzoppo,Silvia Barbon,Leonardo Sartore,Pier Paolo Parnigotto,Claudio Grandi

doi:10.1155/2014/762189

Abstract

Articular cartilage lesions are a particular challenge for regenerative medicine due to cartilage low self-ability repair in case of damage. Hence, a significant goal of musculoskeletal tissue engineering is the development of suitable structures in virtue of their matrix composition and biomechanical properties. The objective of our study was to design in vitro a supporting structure for autologous chondrocyte growth. We realized a biohybrid composite scaffold combining a novel and nonspecific extracellular matrix (ECM), which is decellularized Wharton's jelly ECM, with the biomechanical properties of the synthetic hydrogel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Wharton's jelly ECM was tested for its ability in promoting scaffold colonization by chondrocytes and compared with polyvinyl alcohol itself and the more specific decellularized cartilage matrix. Our preliminary evidences highlighted the chance of using Wharton's jelly ECM in combination with PVA hydrogels as an innovative and easily available scaffold for cartilage restoration.

Highlights

Cartilage degeneration, due to congenital abnormalities or disease and trauma, represents a major health problem of great clinical consequence [1, 2]
The basic approach to tissue engineering depends upon the interaction between cells, scaffolds, and signalling factors to create in vitro a biological tissue construct to implant in vivo mimicking the tissue of interest; engineering cartilage is no exception to this approach [1, 12, 13]
Three different scaffold groups were investigated to analyse their ability in sustaining chondrocytes adhesion and proliferation: the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel alone and the PVA hydrogel combined with Wharton’s jelly (W’s J) derived matrix; the PVA hydrogel combined with articular cartilage (AC) derived matrix

Summary

Introduction

Due to congenital abnormalities or disease and trauma, represents a major health problem of great clinical consequence [1, 2]. Cartilage lesions are generally believed to progress to severe forms of osteoarthritis [5, 6], leading to pathologic changes in the joints with consequent pain, inflammation, and functional disability [7, 8]. Injuries which reach the subchondral bone may induce a systemic reaction and generate reparative tissue. Type II collagen may be produced by this reparative tissue, it consists predominantly of type I collagen, resulting in the formation of fibrocartilage which does not have the biomechanical properties of articular cartilage [9]. The basic approach to tissue engineering depends upon the interaction between cells, scaffolds, and signalling factors to create in vitro a biological tissue construct to implant in vivo mimicking the tissue of interest; engineering cartilage is no exception to this approach [1, 12, 13]

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Conclusion