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Design of a Biaxial Mechanical Loading Bioreactor for Tissue Engineering
Published on: April 25, 2013
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Cartilage tissue engineering using decellularized biomatrix hydrogel containing TGF-β-loaded alginate microspheres in
Sima Bordbar1,2,3,4, Zhen Li4, Nasrin Lotfibakhshaiesh5
1Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Scientific Reports
|May 25, 2024
Summary
Controlled delivery of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) via microspheres combined with mechanical stimulation enhances cartilage regeneration in engineered tissues. This approach is crucial for neocartilage formation using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Physiochemical inducers and mechanical stimulation are key for cartilage tissue fabrication and regeneration.
- Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) can enhance stem cell proliferation and differentiation when combined with biomolecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the controlled release of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) using microspheres within an ECM-derived hydrogel scaffold.
- To evaluate the combined effect of TGF-β1 delivery and mechanical stimulation on mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) chondrogenesis for cartilage tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an ECM-derived hydrogel incorporating TGF-β1-loaded alginate-based microspheres (MSs).
- Culture of human MSCs within the hydrogel constructs under simulated physiological conditions using a multiaxial loading bioreactor.
- Assessment of chondrogenic gene expression and matrix formation in ex vivo osteochondral defect models.
Main Results:
- Hydrogels with and without MSs and TGF-β1 demonstrated high cytocompatibility.
- MSs facilitated comparable chondrogenic gene expression to direct TGF-β1 addition, but superior matrix formation under mechanical loading.
- Constructs with TGF-β1 directly incorporated into the hydrogel showed inferior properties without mechanical stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Controlled local delivery of TGF-β1 via MSs, coupled with mechanical loading, is essential for neocartilage formation by MSCs.
- Further optimization is required to mitigate potential MSC differentiation towards hypertrophy.
