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Critical Steps toward a tissue-engineered cartilage implant using embryonic stem cells
Jojanneke M Jukes1, Lorenzo Moroni, Clemens A van Blitterswijk
1Department of Tissue Regeneration, Institute for Biomedical Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|March 13, 2008
Summary
Embryonic stem cells show promise for cartilage tissue engineering. Further optimization is needed for efficient cell seeding and homogenous differentiation on scaffolds for clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Stem Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Embryonic stem (ES) cells offer a renewable source for chondrocytes, crucial for cartilage repair.
- Current chondrogenic differentiation methods are limited to 2D cultures or small scaffolds.
- Clinical application requires cartilage formation on load-bearing scaffolds for in vitro and in vivo regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of embryonic stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering.
- To optimize cell seeding efficiency and homogeneity on clinically relevant scaffolds.
- To evaluate cell viability and differentiation within engineered cartilage constructs.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of cell seeding in three-dimensional fiber-deposited (3DF) versus compression-molded scaffolds.
- Assessment of seeding efficiency with and without serum, and using gel-assisted injection.
- Evaluation of cell viability and chondrogenic differentiation of single cells versus embryoid bodies (EBs).
Main Results:
- 3DF scaffolds demonstrated more homogenous cell distribution than compression-molded scaffolds.
- Gel-assisted injection improved seeding efficiency on 3DF scaffolds, but cell viability in the scaffold interior remained a challenge.
- Embryoid bodies (EBs) exhibited increased survival rates compared to single cells.
- Mouse ES cells showed chondrogenic differentiation potential in various in vitro conditions.
Conclusions:
- Embryonic stem cells are a viable cell source for cartilage tissue engineering.
- Scaffold architecture and seeding strategies significantly impact cell distribution and viability.
- Further refinement of differentiation protocols is necessary to achieve uniform differentiation and prevent teratoma formation for in vivo applications.
