Icariin-Loaded Hydrogel Regulates Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Chondrogenic Differentiation and Promotes Cartilage Repair in Osteoarthritis

• DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.755260
• Publication Date: 2022-02-09T07:53:30Z
• Authors: Yuefeng Zhu; Le Ye; Xiaoxi Cai; Zuhao Li; Yongqian Fan; Fengjian Yang
• Keywords: Chondrogenesis; Icariin

Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells is a potential therapeutic strategy for cartilage protection and symptom relief osteoarthritis (OA). However, controlling chondrogenesis the implanted in articular cavity remains challenge. In this study, hydrogels containing different concentrations icariin were prepared by situ crosslinking hyaluronic acid Poloxamer 407. This injectable thermoresponsive hydrogel, as 3D cell culture system, showed good biocompatibility with chondrocytes bone marrow (BMSCs), well promoted proliferation BMSCs through Wnt/ β -catenin signaling pathway. kind BMSC-loaded composite hydrogel can significantly prevent destruction inducing chondrogenic differentiation BMSCs, relieve pain regulating expression inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10 MMP-13) OA model. Incorporating into novel icariin-loaded indicates more superior efficacy than single BMSC injection, which suggests great its application OA.