Effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) in a HA/PLGA scaffold on annulus fibrosus regeneration: In vivo tests

• Published in: Macromolecular research 2013, 21(10), , pp.1075-1082
• Main Authors: Song, Jeong Eun, Kim, Min Jeong, Yoon, Hyeon, Yoo, Hanna, Lee, Yu Jeong, Kim, Ha Neul, Lee, Dongwon, Yuk, Soon Hong, Khang, Gilson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter; 고분자공학
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/s13233-013-1137-z

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is an age-related process that affects the biomechanical properties of the spine and is assumed to be one of the principal causes of low back pain. Poly(lactide- co -glycolide) (PLGA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have been widely used as biocompatible scaffold materials for tissue regeneration. In the present study, we fabricated a microporous PLGA scaffold by the salt-leaching method and HA-loaded PLGA scaffolds by the penetrating method. As the porosity of PLGA and PLGA/HA is 90.7% and 96.5%, respectively, PLGA/HA scaffold has the higher porosity. However, the pore size of PLGA (240.7±14.0 μm) is the larger than HA/PLGA (212.0±12.5 μm), and cells from the annulus fibrosus (AF) were seeded into the scaffolds. For the in vivo study, the PLGA and HA/PLGA scaffolds were implanted in four-week-old nude mice. All scaffolds were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the amounts of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen in the scaffolds were determined by a spectrophotometer. Histological evaluation indicated the higher level of AF cell proliferation in the HA/PLGA scaffold than in PLGA scaffolds alone. In addition, AF cells showed the stronger production of GAG and collagen in HA/PLGA. Our results indicate that the HA/PLGA scaffold might be useful for intervertebral disc regeneration.