Degradation Improves Tissue Formation in (Un)Loaded Chondrocyte-laden Hydrogels

• DOI: 10.1007/s11999-011-1823-0
• Publication Date: 2011-02-24T03:06:34Z
• Authors: Justine J. Roberts; Garret D. Nicodemus; Eric C. Greenwald; Stephanie J. Bryant
• Keywords: Aggrecan

Photopolymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels offer a platform to deliver cells in vivo and support three-dimensional cell culture but should be designed degrade sync with neotissue development endure the physiologic environment.We asked whether (1) incorporation of degradation into PEG facilitates tissue comprised essential cartilage macromolecules; (2) early loading before pericellular matrix formation, duration load affects production; (3) dynamic general influences macroscopic development.Primary bovine chondrocytes were encapsulated (n = 3 for each condition). The independent variables hydrogel (nondegrading degrading oligo(lactic acid)-b-PEG-b-oligo(lactic acid) [PEG-LA]), condition (free swelling, unconfined compressive applied intermittently 1 or 4 weeks), time (up 28 days). dependent deposition through biochemical contents, immunohistochemistry, modulus.Degradation led 2.3- 2.9-fold greater glycosaminoglycan collagen respectively; cartilage-like formation aggrecan, II VI, link protein, decorin; decreased moduli. Loading, throughout culture, did not affect content either affected spatial distribution where weeks appeared enhance resulting defects.PEG-LA key macromolecules under loading, requires further tuning.PEG-LA have potential delivering replace damaged tissue-engineered native equivalent, overcoming many limitations associated current clinical treatments.