Mussel-inspired injectable chitosan hydrogel modified with catechol for cell adhesion and cartilage defect repair

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Articular cartilage defects pose significant challenges due to limited self-repair.
• Hydrogel-based strategies offer a promising avenue for cartilage tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel catechol-modified chitosan (CS-C) hydrogel for articular cartilage defect repair.
• To assess the biocompatibility and chondrogenic potential of CS-C hydrogel with bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
• To investigate the in vivo efficacy of BMSC-laden CS-C hydrogel in repairing cartilage defects in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of CS-C hydrogel using mussel-inspired chemistry with horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide catalysis.
• Characterization of hydrogel properties including rheology, swelling, and biodegradation.
• In vitro assessment of BMSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation within the CS-C hydrogel.
• In vivo evaluation of cartilage repair in rat models using BMSC-laden CS-C hydrogel.

Main Results:

• CS-C hydrogel properties varied with macromolecule concentration.
• The hydrogel demonstrated good biocompatibility and promoted BMSC proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation in vitro.
• BMSC-laden CS-C hydrogel significantly enhanced hyaline cartilage reconstruction compared to controls in vivo.

Conclusions:

• CS-C hydrogel is a viable material for cartilage tissue engineering.
• BMSC-loaded CS-C hydrogel shows significant potential for effective articular cartilage defect repair.