TGF-β1 conjugated and collagen impregnated chitosan hydrogels enhance chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

摘要

Conclusions: To enhance chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated cells, functional chitosan hydrogels were developed by incorporating TGF-β1 and nanofibrous Col II into photocrosslinkable MeGC. Controlled delivery of TGF-β1 with reduced burst release was demonstrated via bioconjugation of the protein to the hydrogels. The hydrogel system did not compromise viability of encapsulated hSMSCs and the additions of Col II and TGF-β1 promoted cellular aggregation and chondrogenic differentiation of the encapsulated cells. This MeGC-based hydrogel system may provide a favorable microenvironment tailored to promote chondrogenesis in the treatment of cartilage defects.