Chen Junlin, Li Qingtao, Li Haofei, Lv Chuhan, Yu Hongbo, Feng Qi, Dong Hua
School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China.
National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction (NERC-TRR), Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Bioact Mater. 2024 Oct 19;44:220-235. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.10.013. eCollection 2025 Feb.
Articular cartilage repair and regeneration is still a significant challenge despite years of research. Although microfracture techniques are commonly used in clinical practice, the newborn cartilage is usually fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage, which is mainly attributed to the inadequate microenvironment for effectively recruiting, anchoring, and inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to differentiate into hyaline cartilage. This paper introduces a novel cartilage acellular matrix (CACM) microgel assembly with excellent microporosity, injectability, tissue adhesion, BMSCs recruitment and chondrogenic differentiation capabilities to improve the microfracture-based articular cartilage regeneration. Specifically, the sustained release of simvastatin (SIM) from the SIM@CACM microgel assembly efficiently recruits BMSCs in the early stage of cartilage regeneration, while the abundant interconnected micropores and high specific area assure the quick adhesion, proliferation and infiltration of BMSCs. Additionally, the active factors within the CACM matrix, appropriate mechanical properties of the microgel assembly, and excellent tissue adhesion provide a conductive environment for the continuous chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs into hyaline cartilage. Owing to the synergistic effect of the above-mentioned factors, good articular cartilage repair and regeneration is achieved.
尽管经过多年研究,关节软骨修复与再生仍是一项重大挑战。虽然微骨折技术在临床实践中常用,但新生软骨通常是纤维软骨而非透明软骨,这主要归因于微环境不足以有效招募、锚定和诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)分化为透明软骨。本文介绍了一种新型的软骨脱细胞基质(CACM)微凝胶组件,其具有优异的微孔性、可注射性、组织粘附性、BMSCs招募和软骨形成分化能力,以改善基于微骨折的关节软骨再生。具体而言,辛伐他汀(SIM)从SIM@CACM微凝胶组件中的持续释放能在软骨再生早期有效招募BMSCs,而丰富的相互连通微孔和高比表面积确保了BMSCs的快速粘附、增殖和浸润。此外,CACM基质中的活性因子、微凝胶组件适当的机械性能以及优异的组织粘附性为BMSCs持续分化为透明软骨提供了一个传导环境。由于上述因素的协同作用,实现了良好的关节软骨修复与再生。