Allogeneic platelet rich plasma serves as a scaffold for articular cartilage derived chondroprogenitors

• Published in: Tissue & cell 2019-02, Vol.56, p.107-113
• Main Authors: Vinod, Elizabeth, Vinod Francis, Deepak, Manickam Amirtham, Soosai, Sathishkumar, Solomon, Boopalan, P.R.J.V.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesive joints; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Calcein; Calcium; Calcium chloride; Cartilage; Cartilage (articular); Cartilage diseases; Cartilage, Articular - growth & development; Cell culture; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell proliferation; Cell viability; Chondrocytes - cytology; Chondrogenesis - genetics; Chondroprogenitors; Collagen (type II); Differentiation; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - genetics; Fibronectin; Flow cytometry; Humans; Immunofluorescence; Knee; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Osteoarthritis; Platelet rich plasma; Platelet-Rich Plasma - cytology; Platelet-Rich Plasma - metabolism; Platelets; Repair; Scaffold; Scaffolds; Staining; Supplements; Synergistic effect; Therapeutic applications; Tissue engineering; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 0040-8166; 1532-3072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2018.12.006

•Evaluate human allogeneic platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a biological scaffold for articular cartilage chondroprogenitors in cartilage repair.•PRP was able to sustain chondroprogenitor viability and differentiate towards tri-lineage under appropriate culture conditions.•There was positive extracellular matrix production in scaffolds cultured without chondrogenic supplementation.•PRP - synergistic bio-active scaffold in supporting cell proliferation, maintaining viability and favouring extracellular matrix production. Limited self-restorative ability of the cartilage has necessitated the use of cell and tissue engineering based therapies. Recent advances in the isolation, expansion and characterization of articular cartilage derived chondroprogenitors(CPs) has gained popularity in its role for cartilage repair. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a reliable biological scaffold for in-vitro and in-vivo studies with reported therapeutic applications in cartilage and bone pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether human allogeneic PRP could serve as a biological scaffold for chondroprogenitors (CPs) in cartilage repair. CPs were isolated from the superficial layer of three osteoarthritic knee joints by fibronectin adhesion assay and characterized using flow cytometric analysis. Allogeneic citrated blood was harvested from three subjects to obtain PRP. CPs at a concentration of one million cells per ml were gelled with PRP using calcium chloride. The PRP-CP scaffolds were subjected for adipogeneic, osteogenic, chondrogeneic differentiation and processed for post differentiation-staining studies (Oil Red O, Von Kossa, Alcian blue staining), immunofluorescence (collagen II) and live dead assays (Calcein AM-Ethidium Homodimer). We show that PRP was able to sustain CP cell viability and differentiate towards adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic lineage under appropriate culture conditions. We also noted positive extracellular matrix production in PRP-CP scaffolds cultured without chondrogenic supplementation. Our results suggest that PRP could be a promising bio-active scaffold due to its synergistic effect in supporting cell proliferation, maintaining cell viability and favoring extracellular matrix production. PRP can be used as biological scaffold for the delivery of CPs in cartilage healing.