Kuo Yung-Chih, Ku Hao-Fu, Rajesh Rajendiran
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan, ROC.
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan, ROC.
Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2017 Sep 1;78:265-277. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2017.04.067. Epub 2017 Apr 13.
Cartilage has limited ability to self-repair due to the absence of blood vessels and nerves. The application of biomaterial scaffolds using biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM)-related polymers has become an effective approach to production of engineered cartilage. Chitosan/γ-poly(glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) scaffolds with different mass ratios were prepared using genipin as a cross-linker and a freeze-drying method, and their surfaces were modified with elastin, human serum albumin (HSA) and poly-l-lysine (PLL). The scaffolds were formed through a complex between NH of chitosan and COO of γ-PGA, confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and exhibited an interconnected porous morphology in field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis. The prepared chitosan/γ-PGA scaffolds, at a 3:1 ratio, obtained the required porosity (90%), pore size (≥100μm), mechanical strength (compressive strength>4MPa, Young's modulus>4MPa) and biodegradation (30-60%) for articular cartilage tissue engineering applications. Surface modification of the scaffolds showed positive indications with improved activity toward cell proliferation (deoxyribonucleic acid), cell adhesion and ECM (glycoaminoglycans and type II collagen) secretion of bovine knee chondrocytes compared with unmodified scaffolds. In caspase-3 detection, elastin had a higher inhibitory effect on chondrocyte apoptosis in vitro, followed by HSA, and then PLL. We concluded that utilizing chitosan/γ-PGA scaffolds with surface active biomolecules, including elastin, HSA and PLL, can effectively promote the growth of chondrocytes, secrete ECM and improve the regenerative ability of cartilaginous tissues.
由于缺乏血管和神经，软骨的自我修复能力有限。使用仿生细胞外基质（ECM）相关聚合物的生物材料支架的应用已成为生产工程软骨的有效方法。以京尼平为交联剂，采用冷冻干燥法制备了不同质量比的壳聚糖/γ-聚谷氨酸（γ-PGA）支架，并用弹性蛋白、人血清白蛋白（HSA）和聚-L-赖氨酸（PLL）对其表面进行了修饰。壳聚糖的NH与γ-PGA的COO之间形成复合物构成了支架，傅里叶变换红外光谱证实了这一点，场发射扫描电子显微镜分析显示其具有相互连通的多孔形态。制备的壳聚糖/γ-PGA支架，比例为3:1时，获得了关节软骨组织工程应用所需的孔隙率（90%）、孔径（≥100μm）、机械强度（抗压强度>4MPa，杨氏模量>4MPa）和生物降解率（30-60%）。与未修饰的支架相比，支架的表面修饰对牛膝关节软骨细胞的细胞增殖（脱氧核糖核酸）活性、细胞粘附和细胞外基质（糖胺聚糖和II型胶原蛋白）分泌显示出积极迹象。在半胱天冬酶-3检测中，弹性蛋白对体外软骨细胞凋亡的抑制作用更高，其次是HSA，然后是PLL。我们得出结论，利用具有包括弹性蛋白、HSA和PLL在内的表面活性生物分子的壳聚糖/γ-PGA支架，可以有效促进软骨细胞的生长，分泌细胞外基质并提高软骨组织的再生能力。
