Nanostructured 3D constructs based on chitosan and chondroitin sulphate multilayers for cartilage tissue engineering

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e55451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055451. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

Abstract

Nanostructured three-dimensional constructs combining layer-by-layer technology (LbL) and template leaching were processed and evaluated as possible support structures for cartilage tissue engineering. Multilayered constructs were formed by depositing the polyelectrolytes chitosan (CHT) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) on either bidimensional glass surfaces or 3D packet of paraffin spheres. 2D CHT/CS multi-layered constructs proved to support the attachment and proliferation of bovine chondrocytes (BCH). The technology was transposed to 3D level and CHT/CS multi-layered hierarchical scaffolds were retrieved after paraffin leaching. The obtained nanostructured 3D constructs had a high porosity and water uptake capacity of about 300%. Dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) showed the viscoelastic nature of the scaffolds. Cellular tests were performed with the culture of BCH and multipotent bone marrow derived stromal cells (hMSCs) up to 21 days in chondrogenic differentiation media. Together with scanning electronic microscopy analysis, viability tests and DNA quantification, our results clearly showed that cells attached, proliferated and were metabolically active over the entire scaffold. Cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) formation was further assessed and results showed that GAG secretion occurred indicating the maintenance of the chondrogenic phenotype and the chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cartilage / drug effects
  • Cartilage / physiology*
  • Cattle
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Shape / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chickens
  • Chitosan / pharmacology*
  • Chondrocytes / cytology
  • Chondrocytes / drug effects
  • Chondrocytes / ultrastructure
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Elastic Modulus / drug effects
  • Electrolytes
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • chitosan sulfate
  • DNA
  • Chitosan

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.