Engineered human nucleus pulposus-derived decellularized matrix hydrogel loaded with hNPMSCs for degenerative disc...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major cause of back pain, with limited effective treatments.
• Current treatments often fail to address the underlying biological and mechanical deficits of the degenerated disc.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel cell-delivery system for nucleus pulposus regeneration.
• To utilize a human-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (hNP-dECM) combined with mesenchymal stem cells (hNPMSCs) for enhanced disc repair.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of hNP-dECM scaffolds from human nucleus pulposus tissue.
• Synthesis of a dual-crosslinked hydrogel incorporating hNP-dECM, chitosan, genipin, and tannic acid.
• In vivo evaluation in a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Main Results:

• The hNP-dECM hydrogel demonstrated favorable mechanical properties, porosity, thermosensitivity, and cell viability.
• The cell-delivery system was biosafe and significantly reduced disc degeneration in rabbits.
• Observed improvements included reduced MRI T2 signal loss, increased anabolic gene expression, decreased MMP-13, and enhanced type II collagen.

Conclusions:

• The hNP-dECM-based dual-crosslinked hydrogel serves as a biocompatible and mechanically adaptive platform for stem cell delivery.
• This innovative system effectively promotes intervertebral disc regeneration in vivo.