Culture of human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells on of poly(l‐lactic acid) scaffolds: potential application for the tissue engineering of cartilage

• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-012-2148-6
• Publication Date: 2012-08-03T06:22:39Z
• Authors: Iñigo Izal; Pablo Aranda; Patricia Sanz‐Ramos; Purificación Ripalda; Gonzalo Mora; Froilán Granero‐M...; Harmony Deplaine; José Luis Gómez‐R...; Gloria Gallego Fe...; Victor Acosta; Ignacio Ochoa; Jose Manuel Garcí...; Enrique J. Andreu; Manuel Monleón‐Pr...; Manuel Doblaré; Felipe Prósper
• Keywords: Adult; 0301 basic medicine; Polymers; INGENIERIA MECANICA; Polyesters; Cell Culture Techniques; Apoptosis; Collagen Type I; 03 medical and health sciences; Cell Adhesion; Humans; Tissue engineering; Aggrecans; Lactic Acid; Chondrocyte differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Cell Proliferation; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; PLLA scaffolds; Cell Differentiation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Extracellular Matrix; MAQUINAS Y MOTORES TERMICOS; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mesenchymal stem cells; Cartilage Diseases; Collagen Type X

AbstractPurposeDue to the attractive properties of poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) for tissue engineering, the aim was to determine the growth and differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in PLLA scaffolds and their potential use in the treatment of cartilage diseases.MethodsMSCs were cultured in PLLA films and thin porous membranes to study adherence and proliferation. Permeability and porosity were determined for the different scaffolds employed. The optimal conditions for cell seeding were first determined, as well as cell density and distribution inside the PLLA. Scaffolds were then maintained in expansion or chondrogenic differentiation media for 21 days. Apoptosis, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation was assessed after 21 days in culture by immunohistochemistry. Mechanical characteristics of scaffolds were determined before and after cell seeding.ResultsMSCs uniformly adhered to PLLA films as well as to porous membranes. Proliferation was detected only in monolayers of pure PLLA, but was no longer detected after 10 days. Mechanical characterization of PLLA scaffolds showed differences in the apparent compression elastic modulus for the two sizes used. After determining high efficiencies of seeding, the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) was determined and contained aggrecan and collagens type I and X. ECM produced by the cells induced a twofold increase in the apparent elastic modulus of the composite.ConclusionsBiocompatible PLLA scaffolds have been developed that can be efficiently loaded with MSCs. The scaffold supports chondrogenic differentiation and ECM deposition that improves the mechanics of the scaffold. Although this improvement does not met the expectations of a hyaline‐like cartilage ECM, in part due to the lack of a mechanical stimulation, their potential use in the treatment of cartilage pathologies encourages to improve the mechanical component.