Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California–San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0412, USA.
Tissue Eng Part A. 2010 Oct;16(10):3033-41. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2010.0045.
Macroporous networks of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with interconnected pores can be created by cryogelation techniques. In this study, we describe the potential application of such PEG cryogels as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Three-dimensional macroporous cryogels were evaluated for chondrocyte growth and production of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix (ECM). Seeded primary bovine chondrocytes showed homogeneous distribution throughout the cryogels. DNA content suggests continuous cell proliferation over 4 weeks of in vitro culture. Analysis of the composition of cell-secreted ECM showed a culture-time-dependent increase in the amount of glycosaminoglycan and collagen. The production of ECM by chondrocytes was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy analysis. Further histological and immunohistological analysis of the cell-laden scaffold confirmed the presence of accumulated cartilage-specific ECM within the scaffold. The interconnected macroporous network promoted diffusion of cell-secreted matrix within the cryogels. Our results indicated that interconnected macroporous PEG cryogels successfully supported attachment, viability, proliferation, and biosynthetic activity of seeded chondrocytes.
聚乙二醇（PEG）的大孔网络可以通过冷冻凝胶技术形成具有相互连接的孔。在这项研究中，我们描述了此类 PEG 冷冻凝胶作为软骨组织工程支架的潜在应用。三维大孔冷冻凝胶用于评估软骨细胞的生长和软骨特异性细胞外基质（ECM）的产生。接种的原代牛软骨细胞在冷冻凝胶中均匀分布。DNA 含量表明，在体外培养的 4 周内，细胞持续增殖。细胞分泌的 ECM 组成分析表明，糖胺聚糖和胶原蛋白的含量随培养时间的增加而增加。使用扫描电子显微镜分析证实了软骨细胞 ECM 的产生。对负载细胞的支架进行进一步的组织学和免疫组织化学分析证实，在支架内存在积累的软骨特异性 ECM。相互连接的大孔网络促进了细胞分泌的基质在冷冻凝胶内的扩散。我们的结果表明，相互连接的大孔 PEG 冷冻凝胶成功地支持了接种的软骨细胞的附着、活力、增殖和生物合成活性。
