The use of fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) hybrid scaffold for articular cartilage tissue engineering: an in vivo analysis

• Published in: European cells & materials 2008-02, Vol.15, p.41-52
• Main Authors: Munirah, S, Kim, S H, Ruszymah, B Hi, Khang, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; articular cartilage; Cartilage, Articular - cytology; Cartilage, Articular - metabolism; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; chondrocytes; Chondrocytes - cytology; Collagen Type II - genetics; Collagen Type II - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; fibrin; Fibrin - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Glycosaminoglycans - biosynthesis; Immunohistochemistry; Lactic Acid - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Nude; Phenotype; poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); Polyesters; Polymers - metabolism; Prosthesis Implantation; Rabbits; scaffold; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 1473-2262; 1473-2262
• DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v015a04

Our preliminary results indicated that fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) hybrid scaffold promoted early chondrogenesis of articular cartilage constructs in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo cartilaginous tissue formation by chondrocyte-seeded fibrin/PLGA hybrid scaffolds. PLGA scaffolds were soaked carefully, in chondrocyte-fibrin suspension, and polymerized by dropping thrombin-calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution. PLGA-seeded chondrocytes were used as a control. Resulting constructs were implanted subcutaneously, at the dorsum of nude mice, for 4 weeks. Macroscopic observation, histological evaluation, gene expression and sulphated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) analyses were performed at each time point of 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation. Cartilaginous tissue formation in fibrin/PLGA hybrid construct was confirmed by the presence of lacunae and cartilage-isolated cells embedded within basophilic ground substance. Presence of proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in fibrin/PLGA hybrid constructs was confirmed by positive Safranin O and Alcian Blue staining. Collagen type II exhibited intense immunopositivity at the pericellular matrices. Chondrogenic properties were further demonstrated by the expression of gene encoded cartilage-specific markers, collagen type II and aggrecan core protein. The sGAG production in fibrin/PLGA hybrid constructs was higher than in the PLGA group. In conclusion, fibrin/PLGA hybrid scaffold promotes cartilaginous tissue formation in vivo and may serve as a potential cell delivery vehicle and a structural basis for articular cartilage tissue-engineering.