Effects of an avidin-biotin binding system on chondrocyte adhesion and growth on biodegradable polymers

Cell adhesion to a scaffold is a prerequisite for tissue engineering. Many studies have been focused on enhancing cell adhesion to synthetic materials that are used for scaffold fabrication. In this study, we applied an avidin-biotin binding system to enhance chondrocyte adhesion to biodegradable polymers. Biotin molecules were conjugated to the cell membrane of chondrocytes, and mediated cell adhesion to avidin-coated surfaces. We demonstrated that immobilization of biotin molecules to chondrocyte surfaces enhanced cell adhesion to avidin-coated biodegradable polymers such as poly(L-lactic acid), poly(D,L-lactic acid), and polycaprolactone, compared to the adhesion of normal chondrocytes to the same type of biodegradable polymer. The biotinylated chondrocytes still maintained their proliferation ability. This study showed the promise of applying the avidin-biotin system in cartilage tissue engineering. [diagram in text].