Chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow MSCs in osteochondral implants under kinematic mechanical load is dependent on the underlying osteo component.

Chondrogenic models utilizing human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) are often simplistic, with a single cell type and the absence of mechanical stimulation. Considering the articulating joint as an organ it would be beneficial to include more complex stimulation. Within this study we applied clinically relevant kinematic load to biphasic constructs.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Differentiation for Generating Cartilage and Bone-Like Tissues In Vitro.

In the field of tissue engineering, progress has been made towards the development of new treatments for cartilage and bone defects. However, in vitro culture conditions for human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) have not yet been fully defined. To improve our understanding of cartilage and bone in vitro differentiation, we investigated the effect of culture conditions on hBMSC differentiation.

Ex Vivo Systems to Study Chondrogenic Differentiation and Cartilage Integration.

Articular cartilage injury and repair is an issue of growing importance. Although common, defects of articular cartilage present a unique clinical challenge due to its poor self-healing capacity, which is largely due to its avascular nature. There is a critical need to better study and understand cellular healing mechanisms to achieve more effective therapies for cartilage regeneration.

Sodium Hyaluronate Supplemented Culture Media as a New hMSC Chondrogenic Differentiation Media-Model for Screening of Potential Cartilage Repair Therapies.

Surgical strategies to treat articular cartilage injury such as microfracture, expose human bone marrow stem cells (hMSCs) to synovial fluid and its components. High molecular weight hyaluronan (hMwt HA) is one of the most abundant bioactive macromolecules of healthy synovial fluid (hSF) and it plays an important role in the protection of opposing articular cartilage surfaces within the synovial joint. Although hMwt HA has been extensively used to attempt the engineering of the cartilage tissue, its effect as media supplement has not been established.

Sterilization of collagen scaffolds designed for peripheral nerve regeneration: Effect on microstructure, degradation and cellular colonization.

In this study we investigated the impact of three different sterilization methods, dry heat (DHS), ethylene oxide (EtO) and electron beam radiation (β), on the properties of cylindrical collagen scaffolds with longitudinally oriented pore channels, specifically designed for peripheral nerve regeneration. Scanning electron microscopy, mechanical testing, quantification of primary amines, differential scanning calorimetry and enzymatic degradation were performed to analyze possible structural and chemical changes induced by the sterilization. Moreover, in vitro proliferation and infiltration of the rat Schwann cell line RSC96 within the scaffolds was evaluated, up to 10days of culture.

Scaffolds for bone regeneration made of hydroxyapatite microspheres in a collagen matrix.

Biomimetic scaffolds with a structural and chemical composition similar to native bone tissue may be promising for bone tissue regeneration. In the present work hydroxyapatite mesoporous microspheres (mHA) were incorporated into collagen scaffolds containing an ordered interconnected macroporosity. The mHA were obtained by spray drying of a nano hydroxyapatite slurry prepared by the precipitation technique.