Administration of the insulin into the scaffold atelocollagen for tissue-engineered cartilage

Insulin immobilized PCL-cellulose acetate micro-nanostructured fibrous scaffolds for tendon tissue engineering

Use of growth factors as biochemical molecules to elicit cellular differentiation is a common strategy in tissue engineering. However, limitations associated with growth factors, such as short half-life, high effective physiological doses, and high costs, have prompted the search for growth factor alternatives, such as growth factor mimics and other proteins. This work explores the use of insulin protein as a biochemical factor to aid in tendon healing and differentiation of cells on a biomimetic electrospun micro-nanostructured scaffold. Dose response studies were conducted using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in basal media supplemented with varied insulin concentrations. A dose of 100-ng/mL insulin showed increased expression of tendon markers. Synthetic-natural blends of various ratios of polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate (CA) were used to fabricate micro-nanofibers to balance physicochemical properties of the scaffolds in terms of mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, and insulin delivery. A 75:25 ratio of PCL:CA was found to be optimal in promoting cellular attachment and insulin immobilization. Insulin insulin deliveryimmobilized fiber matrices also showed increased expression of tendon phenotypic markers by MSCs similar to findings with insulin supplemented media, indicating preservation of insulin bioactivity. Insulin functionalized scaffolds may have potential applications in tendon healing and regeneration.

Optimal conditions of collagenase treatment for isolation of articular chondrocytes from aged human tissues

Introduction

There are various types of cartilage, including the auricular and articular cartilages. These cartilages have different functions, and their matrix volume and density of chondrocytes may differ. Thus, different protocols may be required to digest different types of cartilage.

Methods

In this study, we examined protocols for the digestion of articular and auricular cartilages and determined the optimal conditions for articular cartilage digestion.

Results

Our histological findings showed that the articular cartilage has a larger matrix area and fewer cells than the auricular cartilage. In 1-mm² areas of articular and auricular cartilages, the average numbers of cells were 44 and 380, respectively, and the average matrix areas were 0.94 and 0.77 mm², respectively. The maximum numbers of viable cells (approximately 1 × 10⁵ cells/0.1 g of tissue) were obtained after digestion in 0.15, 0.3, or 0.6% collagenase for 24 h, in 1.2% collagenase for 6 h, or in 2.4% collagenase for 4 h. In tissues incubated in 0.15 or 0.3% collagenase, the cell numbers were lower than 1 × 10⁵, even at 24 h, possibly reflecting incomplete digestion of cartilage. No significant differences were observed in the results of apoptosis assays for all collagenase exposure times and concentrations. However, cell damage appeared to be greater when collagenase concentrations were high. When cells obtained after digestion with different concentrations of collagenase were seeded at a density of 3000 cells/cm², they yielded the maximum cell numbers after 1 week.

Conclusions

We recommend a 24-h incubation in 0.6% collagenase as the optimal condition for chondrocyte isolation from articular cartilage. Moreover, we found that the optimum cell-seeding density is approximately 3000 cells/cm². Conditions determined in this study would maximize the yield of isolated articular chondrocytes and enable the generation of a large quantity of cultured cells.

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Optimal conditions for articular cartilage digestion were determined.

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Articular cartilage had a larger matrix and fewer cells than auricular cartilage.

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A 24-h incubation in 0.6% collagenase was optimal for chondrocyte isolation.

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The optimum cell-seeding density was approximately 3000 cells/cm².

Optimal conditions of collagenase treatment for isolation of articular chondrocytes from aged human tissues

Introduction

There are various types of cartilage, including the auricular and articular cartilages. These cartilages have different functions, and their matrix volume and density of chondrocytes may differ. Thus, different protocols may be required to digest different types of cartilage.

Methods

In this study, we examined protocols for the digestion of articular and auricular cartilages and determined the optimal conditions for articular cartilage digestion.

Results

Our histological findings showed that the articular cartilage has a larger matrix area and fewer cells than the auricular cartilage. In 1-mm² areas of articular and auricular cartilages, the average numbers of cells were 44 and 380, respectively, and the average matrix areas were 0.94 and 0.77 mm², respectively. The maximum numbers of viable cells (approximately 1 × 10⁵ cells/0.1 g of tissue) were obtained after digestion in 0.15, 0.3, or 0.6% collagenase for 24 h, in 1.2% collagenase for 6 h, or in 2.4% collagenase for 4 h. In tissues incubated in 0.15 or 0.3% collagenase, the cell numbers were lower than 1 × 10⁵, even at 24 h, possibly reflecting incomplete digestion of cartilage. No significant differences were observed in the results of apoptosis assays for all collagenase exposure times and concentrations. However, cell damage appeared to be greater when collagenase concentrations were high. When cells obtained after digestion with different concentrations of collagenase were seeded at a density of 3000 cells/cm², they yielded the maximum cell numbers after 1 week.

Conclusions

We recommend a 24-h incubation in 0.6% collagenase as the optimal condition for chondrocyte isolation from articular cartilage. Moreover, we found that the optimum cell-seeding density is approximately 3000 cells/cm². Conditions determined in this study would maximize the yield of isolated articular chondrocytes and enable the generation of a large quantity of cultured cells.

Cartilage Tissue Engineering: What Have We Learned in Practice?

Many technologies that underpin tissue engineering as a research field were developed with the aim of producing functional human cartilage in vitro. Much of our practical experience with three-dimensional cultures, tissue bioreactors, scaffold materials, stem cells, and differentiation protocols was gained using cartilage as a model system. Despite these advances, however, generation of engineered cartilage matrix with the composition, structure, and mechanical properties of mature articular cartilage has not yet been achieved. Currently, the major obstacles to synthesis of clinically useful cartilage constructs are our inability to control differentiation to the extent needed, and the failure of engineered and host tissues to integrate after construct implantation. The aim of this chapter is to distil from the large available body of literature the seminal approaches and experimental techniques developed for cartilage tissue engineering and to identify those specific areas requiring further research effort.

Collagen scaffolds with controlled insulin release and controlled pore structure for cartilage tissue engineering

Controlled and local release of growth factors and nutrients from porous scaffolds is important for maintenance of cell survival, proliferation, and promotion of tissue regeneration. The purpose of the present research was to design a controlled release porous collagen-microbead hybrid scaffold with controlled pore structure capable of releasing insulin for application to cartilage tissue regeneration. Collagen-microbead hybrid scaffold was prepared by hybridization of insulin loaded PLGA microbeads with collagen using a freeze-drying technique. The pore structure of the hybrid scaffold was controlled by using preprepared ice particulates having a diameter range of 150–250 μm. Hybrid scaffold had a controlled pore structure with pore size equivalent to ice particulates and good interconnection. The microbeads showed an even spatial distribution throughout the pore walls. In vitro insulin release profile from the hybrid scaffold exhibited a zero order release kinetics up to a period of 4 weeks without initial burst release. Culture of bovine articular chondrocytes in the hybrid scaffold demonstrated high bioactivity of the released insulin. The hybrid scaffold facilitated cell seeding and spatial cell distribution and promoted cell proliferation.