3Bs Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Barco GMR, Portugal.
ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018;1058:281-304. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-76711-6_13.
Gellan gum (GG) is a widely explored natural polysaccharide that has been gaining attention in tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine field, and more recently in osteochondral TE approaches. Taking advantage of its inherent features such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, similarity with the extracellular matrix and easy functionalization, GG-based hydrogels have been studied for their potential for cartilage and bone tissue regeneration. Several preclinical studies describe the successful outcome of GG in cartilage tissue engineering. By its turn, GG composites have also been proposed in several strategies to guide bone formation. The big challenge in osteochondral TE approaches is still to achieve cartilage and bone regeneration simultaneously through a unique integrated bifunctional construct. The potential of GG to be used as polymeric support to reach both bone and cartilage regeneration has been demonstrated. This chapter provides an overview of GG properties and the functionalization strategies employed to tailor its behaviour to a particular application. The use of GG in soft and hard tissues regeneration approaches, as well in osteochondral integrated TE strategies is also revised.
结冷胶（GG）是一种广泛研究的天然多糖，在组织工程（TE）和再生医学领域受到关注，最近在骨软骨 TE 方法中也受到关注。利用其固有特性，如生物相容性、可生物降解性、与细胞外基质的相似性和易于功能化，基于 GG 的水凝胶已被研究用于软骨和骨组织再生。一些临床前研究描述了 GG 在软骨组织工程中的成功结果。反过来，GG 复合材料也在几种策略中被提出，以指导骨形成。在骨软骨 TE 方法中，仍然存在的一个大挑战是通过独特的集成双功能构建体同时实现软骨和骨的再生。已经证明 GG 具有用作聚合物支架以实现骨和软骨再生的潜力。本章概述了 GG 的性质和功能化策略，这些策略用于调整其行为以适应特定应用。还回顾了 GG 在软组织和硬组织再生方法中的应用，以及在骨软骨整合 TE 策略中的应用。
