[In vitro studies on tissue engineered intervertebral disc].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of tissue engineered intervertebral disc for regeneration of discs.

Methods: A three-dimensional porous poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold was fabricated by temperature induced phase separation method. Human fetal disc cells were isolated and cultured in vitro. The disc cells labeled with a PKH-26 fluorescent dye were seeded into a three-dimensional porous scaffold. The proliferation of disc cells with PKH-26 fluorescent labels was assessed by using MTT uptake, laser fluorescence microscopy and SEM.

Results: Human fetal disc cells displayed a polygonal shape in primary monolayer culture. A regular arrangement and microtubules orientation-structure scaffold with 50-300 microm in diameter was fabricated by thermal-induced phase separation technique. MTT uptake and fluorescent microscopy examination indicated that the seeded disc cells were viable and showed proliferation activity within a porous scaffold.

Conclusion: The above findings support potential applications of tissue engineered disc in treatment of disc degenerative diseases.