INFLUENCE OF CHONDROCYTE ZONE ON CO-CULTURES WITH MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN HA HYDROGELS FOR CARTILAGE TISSUE ENGINEERING

摘要

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell type for cartilage tissue engineering in that they can undergo chondrogenesis in a variety of 3D contexts [1]. Focused efforts in MSC-based cartilage tissue engineering have recently culminated in the formation of biologic materials possessing biochemical and functional mechanical properties that match that of the native tissue [2]. These approaches generally involve the continuous or intermittent application of pro-chondrogenic growth factors during in vitro culture. For example, in one recent study, we showed robust construct maturation in MSC-seeded hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels transiently exposed to high levels of TGF-P3 [3]. Despite the promise of this approach, MSCs are a multipotent cell type and retain a predilection towards hypertrophic phenotypic conversion (i.e., bone formation) when removed from a pro-chondrogenic environment (e.g., in vivo implantation).