Network of Excellence in Functional Biomaterials, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Eur Cell Mater. 2010 Sep 6;20:134-48. doi: 10.22203/ecm.v020a12.
Intervertebral disc regeneration strategies based on stem cell differentiation in combination with the design of functional scaffolds is an attractive approach towards repairing/regenerating the nucleus pulposus. The specific aim of this study was to optimise a composite hydrogel composed of type II collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a carrier for mesenchymal stem cells. Hydrogel stabilisation was achieved by means of 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) cross-linking. Optimal hydrogel properties were determined by investigating different concentrations of EDC (8 mM, 24 mM and 48 mM). Stable hydrogels were obtained independent of the concentration of carbodiimide used. The hydrogels cross-linked by the lowest concentration of EDC (8 mM) demonstrated high swelling properties. Additionally, improved proliferation of seeded rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) and hydrogel stability levels in culture were observed with this 8 mM cross-linked hydrogel. Results from this study indicate that EDC/NHS (8 mM) cross-linked type II collagen/HA hydrogel was capable of supporting viability of rMSCs, and furthermore their differentiation into a chondrogenic lineage. Further investigations should be conducted to determine its potential as scaffold for nucleus pulposus regeneration/repair.
基于干细胞分化与功能支架设计的椎间盘再生策略是修复/再生髓核的一种有吸引力的方法。本研究的具体目的是优化由 II 型胶原蛋白和透明质酸（HA）组成的复合水凝胶作为间充质干细胞的载体。通过 1-乙基-3(3-二甲基氨基丙基)碳二亚胺（EDC）和 N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺（NHS）交联来实现水凝胶的稳定化。通过研究不同浓度的 EDC（8 mM、24 mM 和 48 mM）来确定最佳水凝胶特性。无论使用的碳二亚胺浓度如何，都能获得稳定的水凝胶。交联浓度最低的 EDC（8 mM）的水凝胶表现出高溶胀性能。此外，用这种 8 mM 交联的水凝胶观察到接种的大鼠间充质干细胞（rMSCs）增殖和水凝胶稳定性水平提高。本研究结果表明，EDC/NHS（8 mM）交联的 II 型胶原蛋白/HA 水凝胶能够支持 rMSCs 的活力，并且进一步分化为软骨谱系。应进一步进行研究以确定其作为髓核再生/修复支架的潜力。
