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Factor XIII Cross-Linked Hyaluronan Hydrogels for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Nicolas Broguiere1, Emma Cavalli1, Gian M Salzmann2
1ETH Zürich, Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration Laboratory, HPL J20, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
|January 20, 2021
Summary
New transglutaminase-cross-linked hyaluronan (HA-TG) hydrogels show promise for cartilage repair. These injectable gels support cell growth and cartilage formation, offering a minimally invasive, one-step treatment for cartilage lesions.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Cartilage lesions represent a significant clinical challenge due to cartilage's limited self-healing capacity.
- Current treatments often involve invasive procedures with variable outcomes.
- There is a need for advanced biomaterials that can support cartilage regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of transglutaminase-cross-linked hyaluronan (HA-TG) hydrogels for treating cartilage lesions.
- To evaluate the key properties of HA-TG hydrogels, including injectability, gelling kinetics, biocompatibility, and adhesion to native cartilage.
- To assess the behavior of encapsulated human chondroprogenitors within HA-TG hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of transglutaminase-cross-linked hyaluronan (HA-TG) hydrogels.
- Assessment of hydrogel properties: injectability, gelation time, mechanical properties, and adhesion to cartilage.
- Encapsulation of human chondroprogenitors within HA-TG hydrogels.
- Evaluation of cell viability, proliferation, and chondrogenesis within the hydrogels over time.
Main Results:
- HA-TG hydrogels demonstrated injectability, rapid gelation, biocompatibility, and strong adhesion to native cartilage.
- Encapsulated human chondroprogenitors exhibited robust growth and chondrogenesis within the HA-TG hydrogels.
- Soft HA-TG gels (∼1 kPa) promoted significant extracellular matrix deposition, increasing hydrogel modulus to ∼0.3 MPa within 3 weeks, approaching native cartilage stiffness (∼1 MPa).
Conclusions:
- HA-TG hydrogels possess essential properties for effective cartilage tissue engineering.
- The combination of HA-TG hydrogels with off-the-shelf human chondroprogenitors provides a foundation for a reproducible, minimally invasive, one-step cell-based therapy for cartilage lesions.
- This approach promises improved integration with surrounding tissues and enhanced treatment outcomes for cartilage defects.
