Chitosan stabilizes platelet growth factors and modulates stem cell differentiation toward tissue regeneration

Abstract

The idea of using chitosan as a functional delivery aid to support simultaneously PRP, stem cells and growth factors (GF) is associated with the intention to use morphogenic biomaterials to modulate the natural healing sequence in bone and other tissues. For example, chitosan-chondroitin sulfate loaded with platelet lysate was included in a poly(D,L-lactate) foam that was then seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells and cultured in vitro under osteogenic stimulus: the platelet lysate provided to the bone tissue the most suitable assortment of GF which induces the osteogenic differentiation of the mesenchymal stem cells. PDGF, FGF, IGF and TGF-β were protagonists in the repair of callus fractures. The release of GF from the composites of chitosan-PRP and either nano-hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate was highly beneficial for enhancing MSC proliferation and differentiation, thus qualifying chitosan as an excellent vehicle. A number of biochemical characteristics of chitosan exert synergism with stem cells in the regeneration of soft tissues.

Keywords: ADSC; AFM; ALP; Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide; BMP; BMSC; Ca(3)P(2)O(8); Chitosan; DMEM; Dulbecco modified Eagle's medium; ECM; ESC; FGF; GAG; GF; GFP; Growth factors; H&E; HPC; HSC; IGF; MSC; N-methylimidazole chitosan; NMI-chitosan; PDGF; PDLSC; PRP; Platelets; RGD; SA-chitosan; SOD; Stem cells; TGF-β; TXA(2); Tissue regeneration; VEGF; Wound healing; adipose derived stem cell; alkaline phosphatase; atomic force microscopy; bone marrow stem cells; bone morphogenetic protein; embryonic stem cells; extracellular matrix; fibroblast growth factor; glycosaminoglycans; green fluorescent protein; growth factors; hematopoietic progenitor cells; hematopoietic stem cells; hematoxylin and eosin; insulin-like growth factor; mesenchymal stem cell; periodontal ligament stem cells; platelet derived growth factor; platelet-rich plasma; salicylate-modified chitosan; superoxide dismutase; thromboxane A(2); transforming growth factor-β; tricalcium orthophosphate; vascular endothelial growth factor.