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Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Large-Scale Preparation of Synovial Fluid Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes by 3D Bioreactor Culture
Published on: July 26, 2022
Stem cell recruitment polypeptide hydrogel microcarriers with exosome delivery for osteoarthritis treatment
Lei Yang1,2, Wenzhao Li2, Yuanjin Zhao3,4
1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Abstract:
With the accelerated aging tendency, osteoarthritis (OA) has become an intractable global public health challenge. Stem cells and their derivative exosome (Exo) have shown great potential in OA treatment. Research in this area tends to develop functional microcarriers for stem cell and Exo delivery to improve the therapeutic effect. Herein, we develop a novel system of Exo-encapsulated stem cell-recruitment hydrogel microcarriers from liquid nitrogen-assisted microfluidic electrospray for OA treatment. Benefited from the advanced droplet generation capability of microfluidics and mild cryogelation procedure, the resultant particles show uniform size dispersion and excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, acryloylated stem cell recruitment peptides SKPPGTSS are directly crosslinked within the particles by ultraviolet irradiation, thus simplifying the peptide coupling process and preventing its premature release. The SKPPGTSS-modified particles can recruit endogenous stem cells to promote cartilage repair and the released Exo from the particles further enhances the cartilage repair performance through synergistic effects. These features suggest that the proposed hydrogel microcarrier delivery system is a promising candidate for OA treatment.
Insights
This study introduces novel hydrogel microcarriers that deliver exosomes and recruit stem cells, offering a promising new treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) by enhancing cartilage repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing global health concern due to aging populations.
- Stem cells and their exosomes show therapeutic potential for OA.
- Developing effective delivery systems for stem cells and exosomes is crucial for improving OA treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel hydrogel microcarrier system for delivering exosomes and recruiting endogenous stem cells for OA treatment.
- To create a system that simplifies peptide coupling and prevents premature release for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized liquid nitrogen-assisted microfluidic electrospray to fabricate uniform hydrogel microcarriers.
- Incorporated acryloylated stem cell recruitment peptides (SKPPGTSS) via UV irradiation for direct crosslinking.
- Loaded the microcarriers with exosomes derived from stem cells.
Main Results:
- The microcarriers exhibited uniform size distribution and excellent biocompatibility.
- The SKPPGTSS peptide successfully recruited endogenous stem cells to the site.
- Co-delivery of exosomes and recruited stem cells demonstrated synergistic effects, significantly enhancing cartilage repair.
Conclusions:
- The developed hydrogel microcarrier system is a promising platform for OA therapy.
- The combination of stem cell recruitment and exosome delivery offers a potent strategy for cartilage regeneration.
- This approach simplifies the delivery process and improves the therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis.
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