Evaluation of nanoarchitectured collagen type II molecules on cartilage engineering.

Scaffold architecture, including the geometry and dimension of scaffolds, is an important parameter in cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Following the characterization of collagen type II nanoarchitectured molecules, collagen fibrils (CNFs) and collagen spheres (CNPs) prepared using a high-voltage electric field in our laboratory, we proposed to use these nanoarchitectured molecules to assess their influence on the culturing of chondrocytes in stirred bioreactors. The results demonstrate that chondrocytes rapidly formed more and larger chondrocyte pellets (spheroids) after the addition of nanoarchitectured molecules into the culture medium.

Studies on the microspheres comprised of reconstituted collagen and hydroxyapatite.

Microspheres comprised of hydroxyapatite particles, dispersed in reconstituted fibrous collagen, were prepared and characterized. The hydroxyapatite particles distributed evenly throughout the collagen matrix of the microsphere. Diameters of the reconstituted collagen fibers ranged from 30 to 90 nm, and exhibited a regular banding pattern with cross-striation of 50-60 nm under transmission electron microscope, suggesting that the reconstitution of collagen was not hindered by the hydroxyapatite particulates.

Osteogenic enrichment of bone-marrow stromal cells with the use of flow chamber and type I collagen-coated surface.

The stromal cells of the bone marrow are able to attach to the surface and differentiate into cells with bone-forming capability when stimulated with osteogenic supplements. In this study, we have employed a flow-chamber device containing a collagen-coated surface to enrich the potential osteoprogenitor cells from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The population of the cells attached to the collagen-coated substratum is about twice that attached to the uncoated surface.

Collagen as an immobilization vehicle for bone marrow stromal cells enriched with osteogenic potential.

The bone marrow contains mesenchymal cells that can be divided into two categories: cells of hemopoietic lineage and stromal cells. The stromal cells are adhesive to the surface of culture dish, and could be differentiated into cells with bone-forming capability when stimulated with osteogenic supplements. In this study, we have employed collagen to immobilize cells with osteogenic potential from bone marrow.