Stem cell augmented mesh materials: an in vitro and in vivo study

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Mesh materials are used as scaffolds in tissue repair.
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have regenerative potential.
• Optimizing scaffold-cell interactions is crucial for effective tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate mesh materials as scaffolds for rat-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) in vitro and in vivo.
• To compare the inflammatory response and collagen characteristics of seeded versus unseeded implants.
• To assess the impact of rMSCs on implant biomechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• rMSCs were cultured in vitro on four mesh materials.
• The best-performing materials were selected for in vivo studies in rats.
• Implants, with or without rMSCs, were placed on the abdominal wall.
• Outcomes measured included cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and biomechanical properties.

Main Results:

• Surgisis and Pelvitex showed the best rMSC proliferation in vitro.
• In vivo, rMSCs reduced neutrophils with Pelvitex and increased collagen with Surgisis at 90 days.
• Surgisis seeded with rMSCs demonstrated increased breaking force and stiffness at 7 days.

Conclusions:

• rMSCs mitigated systemic inflammation with synthetic implants.
• rMSCs improved collagen characteristics at the biological graft-native tissue interface.
• rMSCs enhanced the biomechanical strength of biological explants.