TITLE:
Regeneration of Hyaline Cartilage Using a Mechanically-Tuned Chondrocyte-Seeded Biomimetic Tissue-Engineered 3D Scaffold: A Theoretical Approach
AUTHORS:
Addie Hicks
KEYWORDS:
Hyaline/Articular Cartilage, Type II Collagen, Aggrecan, BMP-7, Scaffold
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.5 No.7,
June
20,
2014
ABSTRACT: The limited ability of cartilage tissue to repair itself poses a
functionally impairing health problem. While many treatment methods are
available, full restoration of the tissue to its original state is rare. Often,
complete joint replacement surgery is required to obtain long-term relief. Tissue
engineering approaches, however, provide new opportunities for cartilage
replacement. They seek to provide mechanisms to repair or replace lost tissue
or function. A theoretical method is presented here for regenerating hyaline
cartilage in vitro using a
chondrocyte-seeded three-dimensional biomimetic engineered scaffold with
mechanical properties similar to those occurring naturally. The scaffold
composition, type II collagen, aggrecan, hyaluronan, hyaluronan binding protein
(for link protein), and BMP-7, were chosen to encourage synthesis of hyaline
cartilage by providing a more native environment and signaling cue for the
seeded chondrocytes. The scaffold components mimic the macrofibrillar collagen
network found in articular cartilage. Type II collagen provides tensile
strength, and aggrecan, the predominant proteoglycan, provides compressive
strength.