Cell-bricks based injectable niche guided persistent ectopic chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and enabled nasal augmentation

摘要

IntroductionDeveloping cartilage constructs with injectability, appropriate matrix composition and persistent cartilaginous phenotype remains an enduring challenge in cartilage repair. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have chondrogenic potential. Current approaches to drive their chondrogenic differentiation require extensive cell manipulation ex vivo and using exogenous growth factors. However, preventing hypertrophic transition of BMSCs in vivo and maintaining persistent chondrogenesis remain bottlenecks in clinical application. This study aimed to develop completely biological, injectable constructs to generate cartilage by co-transplanting chondrocyte and BMSCs.