Silk fibroin/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel with tunable biomechanical properties has application potential as cartilage scaffold

Engineering sulfated polysaccharides and silk fibroin based injectable IPN hydrogels with stiffening and growth factor presentation abilities for cartilage tissue engineering

The extracellular matrix (ECM) presents a framework for various biological cues and regulates homeostasis during both developing and mature stages of tissues. During development of cartilage, the ECM plays a critical role in endowing both biophysical and biochemical cues to the progenitor cells. Hence, designing microenvironments that recapitulate these biological cues as provided by the ECM during development may facilitate the engineering of cartilage tissue. In the present study, we fabricated an injectable interpenetrating hydrogel (IPN) system which serves as an artificial ECM and provides chondro-inductive niches for the differentiation of stem cells to chondrocytes. The hydrogel was designed to replicate the gradual stiffening (as a biophysical cue) and the presentation of growth factors (as a biochemical cue) as provided by the natural ECM of the tissue, thus exemplifying a biomimetic approach. This dynamic stiffening was achieved by incorporating silk fibroin, while the growth factor presentation was accomplished using sulfated-carboxymethyl cellulose. Silk fibroin and sulfated-carboxymethyl cellulose (s-CMC) were combined with tyraminated-carboxymethyl cellulose (t-CMC) and crosslinked using HRP/H2O2 to fabricate s-CMC/t-CMC/silk IPN hydrogels. Initially, the fabricated hydrogel imparted a soft microenvironment to promote chondrogenic differentiation, and with time it gradually stiffened to offer mechanical support to the joint. Additionally, the presence of s-CMC conferred the hydrogel with the property of sequestering cationic growth factors such as TGF-β and allowing their prolonged presentation to the cells. More importantly, TGF-β loaded in the developed hydrogel system remained active and induced chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells, resulting in the deposition of cartilage ECM components which was comparable to the hydrogels that were treated with TGF-β provided through media. Overall, the developed hydrogel system acts as a reservoir of the necessary biological cues for cartilage regeneration and simultaneously provides mechanical support for load-bearing tissues such as cartilage.

3D bioprinting by reinforced bioink based on photocurable interpenetrating networks for cartilage tissue engineering

Cartilage has a limited ability to repair itself, highlighting the urgent need for suitable materials for cartilage regeneration. Achieving a balance between cell survival environment and hydrogel crosslinking density is crucial for photosensitive cell-laden cartilage repair materials to achieve both high strength and good cell viability. Here, an interpenetrating hydrogel consisted of methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) and glycidyl methacrylate silk fibroin (SG) was introduced. Compared to GelMA hydrogel, GelMA/SG had desired mechanical properties, with achieving up to 5 times of compression modulus and 6 times of compression failure energy. Meanwhile, the chondrocytes inside GelMA/SG exhibited great viability which was over 90 %. GelMA/SG as a bioink had favorable printability for digital light processing (DLP) bioprinting. The mesh DLP-printed scaffolds with high precision were created and GelMA/SG had a better shape retention ability than GelMA. Moreover, GelMA/SG cell-laden scaffolds had high strength while chondrocytes proliferated significantly in vitro culture. They were implanted under the skin of nude mice to evaluate ectopic chondrogenesis in vivo. The GelMA/SG cell-laden scaffolds indicated little deformation and high expression of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans, which was advantageous for cartilage regeneration. The scaffold and its fabrication strategy provide potential solutions for clinical cartilage repair problems in the future.

Application of chitosan with different molecular weights in cartilage tissue engineering

Cartilage tissue engineering involves the invention of novel implantable cartilage replacement materials to help heal cartilage injuries that do not heal themselves, aiming to overcome the shortcomings of current clinical cartilage treatments. Chitosan has been widely used in cartilage tissue engineering because of its similar structure to glycine aminoglycan, which is widely distributed in connective tissues. The molecular weight, as an important structural parameter of chitosan, affects not only the method of chitosan composite scaffold preparation but also the effect on cartilage tissue healing. Thus, this review identifies methods for the preparation of chitosan composite scaffolds with low, medium and high molecular weights, as well as a range of chitosan molecular weights appropriate for cartilage tissue repair, by summarizing the application of different molecular weights of chitosan in cartilage repair in recent years.

Evaluation and Application of Silk Fibroin Based Biomaterials to Promote Cartilage Regeneration in Osteoarthritis Therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease characterized by cartilage damage and degeneration. Traditional treatments such as NSAIDs and joint replacement surgery only relieve pain and do not achieve complete cartilage regeneration. Silk fibroin (SF) biomaterials are novel materials that have been widely studied and applied to cartilage regeneration. By mimicking the fibrous structure and biological activity of collagen, SF biomaterials can promote the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes and contribute to the formation of new cartilage tissue. In addition, SF biomaterials have good biocompatibility and biodegradability and can be gradually absorbed and metabolized by the human body. Studies in recent years have shown that SF biomaterials have great potential in treating OA and show good clinical efficacy. Therefore, SF biomaterials are expected to be an effective treatment option for promoting cartilage regeneration and repair in patients with OA. This article provides an overview of the biological characteristics of SF, its role in bone and cartilage injuries, and its prospects in clinical applications to provide new perspectives and references for the field of bone and cartilage repair.

Recent advances in carboxymethyl chitosan-based materials for biomedical applications

Chitosan (CS) and its derivatives have been applied extensively in the biomedical field owing to advantageous characteristics including biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity and adhesive properties. The low solubility of CS at physiological pH limits its use in systems requiring higher dissolving ability and a suitable drug release rate. Besides, CS can result in fast drug release because of its high swelling degree and rapid water absorption in aqueous media. As a water-soluble derivative of CS, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) has certain improved properties, rendering it a more suitable candidate for wound healing, drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. This review will focus on the antibacterial, anticancer and antitumor, antioxidant and antifungal bioactivities of CMC and the most recently described applications of CMC in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging and cosmetics.

Irrigating degradation properties of silk fibroin-collagen type II composite cartilage scaffold in vitro and in vivo

Silk fibroin-collagen type II scaffolds are promising in cartilage tissue engineering due to their suitable biological functionality to promote proliferation of chondrocytes in vitro. However, their degradation properties, which are of crucial importance as scaffold degradation should consistent with the new tissue formation process, are still unknown. In this study, degradability of silk fibroin-collagen type II cartilage scaffolds was probed both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro degradation experiments show that the scaffolds decreased 32.25 % ± 0.62 %, 34.27 % ± 0.96 %, 36.27 % ± 2.39 % in weight after 8 weeks of degradation at the irrigation velocity of 0 mL/min, 7.89 mL/min and 15.79 mL/min. The degradation ratio, which increases with time and increasing irrigation velocity, is described by combining the built mathematic model and finite element modeling method. The scaffolds after 8 weeks of degradation in vitro keep their mechanical structural integrity to support new tissues. In vivo degradation experiments conducted in rabbits further show that the scaffolds degrade gradually, be absorbed with time and finally collapse in structure. The degradation process is accompanied by the growth of fibrous tissues and the scaffold is filled by fibrous tissues after 12 weeks of implantation. Immunohistology analysis shows that the inflammation caused by scaffolds is controllable and gradually alleviates with time. To sum up, silk fibroin-collagen type II cartilage scaffolds, which show suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility during degradation in vitro and in vivo, have great potential in cartilage repair. The novelty of the study is that it not only introduces a mathematical model to predict the irrigation degradation ratio, but also provides experimental degradation data support for clinical application of silk fibroin-collagen type II cartilage scaffolds.

A composite hydrogel scaffold based on collagen and carboxymethyl chitosan for cartilage regeneration through one-step chemical crosslinking

The number of cases of cartilage damage worldwide is increasing annually and this problem severely limits an individual's physical activities, subsequently contributing to additional medical problems. Hydrogels can repair cartilage defects and promote cartilage regeneration. In this study, a composite hydrogel scaffold was prepared with collagen (COL), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), and the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide through one-step chemical crosslinking, in which the three compositions ratio was especially investigated. The hydrogel scaffold performed well in cell adhesion and biocompatibility experiments, mainly due to the favorable porosity (the aperture was concentrated at 100 μm and the porosity was >70 %) and RGD concentration (2 mM RGD was the optimal concentration, which could effectively improve the attachment of BMSCs to the stent). Moreover, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) filled in the hydrogel scaffold, together with transforming growth factor TGF-β3, which was applied to evaluate the feasibility on the repair of the injured cartilage of the rat. In vitro and in vivo study, according to the results of cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, the hydrogel material had no toxic effect on cells, and the COL2/CMC1 hydrogel scaffold had the most obvious role in promoting cell proliferation. The results of pathological section showed that the cell scaffold complex group provided good mechanical properties for the wound and supplemented the stem cells derived from chondrocytes and showed good cartilage defect repair effect; In the scaffold group, the surface fibrosis of the injured area was mainly filled with fibrocartilage and other collagen fibers The hydrogel/BMSCs complex based on COL and CMC can be beneficial for the regeneration of cartilage.

Novel fabrication of bioengineered injectable chitosan hydrogel loaded with conductive nanoparticles to improve therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells in functional recovery after ischemic myocardial infarction

In recent decades, myocardial regeneration through stem cell transplantation and tissue engineering has been viewed as a promising technique for treating myocardial infarction. As a result, the researcher attempts to see whether co-culturing modified mesenchymal stem cells with Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel and H9C2 may help with tissue regeneration and cardiac function recovery. The gold nanoparticles (Au) incorporated into the chitosan-silk fibroin hydrogel (Au@Ch-SF) were validated using spectral and microscopic examinations. The most essential elements of hydrogel groups were investigated in detail, including weight loss, mechanical strength, and drug release rate. Initially, the cardioblast cells (H9C2 cells) was incubated with Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel, followed by mesenchymal stem cells (2 × 10⁵) were transplanted into the Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel+H9C2 culture at the ratio of 2:1. Further, cardiac phenotype development, cytokines expression and tissue regenerative performance of modified mesenchymal stem cells treatment were studied through various in vitro and in vivo analyses. The Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel gelation time was much faster than that of Ch and Ch-SF hydrogels, showing that Ch and SF exhibited greater intermolecular interactions. The obtained Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel has no toxicity on mesenchymal stem cells (MS) or cardiac myoblast (H9C2) cells, according to the biocompatibility investigation. MS cells co-cultured with Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel and H9C2 cells also stimulated cardiomyocyte fiber restoration, which has been confirmed in myocardial infarction rats using -MHC and Cx43 myocardial indicators. We developed a novel method of co-cultured therapy using MS cells, Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel, and H9C2 cells which could promote the regenerative activities in myocardial ischemia cells. These study findings show that co-cultured MS therapy might be effective for the treatment of myocardial injury.

Biomaterials Based on Chitosan and Its Derivatives and Their Potential in Tissue Engineering and Other Biomedical Applications-A Review

In the times of dynamically developing regenerative medicine, more and more attention is focused on the use of natural polymers. This is due to their high biocompatibility and biodegradability without the production of toxic compounds, which means that they do not hurt humans and the natural environment. Chitosan and its derivatives are polymers made most often from the shells of crustaceans and are biodegradable and biocompatible. Some of them have antibacterial or metal-chelating properties. This review article presents the development of biomaterials based on chitosan and its derivatives used in regenerative medicine, such as a dressing or graft of soft tissues or bones. Various examples of preparations based on chitosan and its derivatives in the form of gels, films, and 3D structures and crosslinking products with another polymer are discussed herein. This article summarizes the latest advances in medicine with the use of biomaterials based on chitosan and its derivatives and provides perspectives on future research activities.

Natural Materials for 3D Printing and Their Applications

In recent years, 3D printing has gradually become a well-known new topic and a research hotspot. At the same time, the advent of 3D printing is inseparable from the preparation of bio-ink. Natural materials have the advantages of low toxicity or even non-toxicity, there being abundant raw materials, easy processing and modification, excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and high cell activity, making them very suitable for the preparation of bio-ink. With the help of 3D printing technology, the prepared materials and scaffolds can be widely used in tissue engineering and other fields. Firstly, we introduce the natural materials and their properties for 3D printing and summarize the physical and chemical properties of these natural materials and their applications in tissue engineering after modification. Secondly, we discuss the modification methods used for 3D printing materials, including physical, chemical, and protein self-assembly methods. We also discuss the method of 3D printing. Then, we summarize the application of natural materials for 3D printing in tissue engineering, skin tissue, cartilage tissue, bone tissue, and vascular tissue. Finally, we also express some views on the research and application of these natural materials.

Loofah-chitosan and poly (-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) based hydrogel scaffolds for meniscus tissue engineering applications

The meniscus is a fibrocartilaginous tissue that is very important for the stability of the knee joint. However, it has a low ability to heal itself, so damage to it will always lead to articular cartilage degeneration. The goal of this study was to make a new type of meniscus scaffold made of chitosan, loofah mat, and PHBV nanofibers, as well as to describe hydrogel composite scaffolds in terms of their shape, chemical composition, mechanical properties, and temperature. Three different concentrations of genipin (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 %) were used and the optimal crosslinker concentration was 0.3 % for Chitosan/loofah (CL) and Chitosan/loofah/PHBV fiber (CLF). Scaffolds were seeded using undifferentiated MSCs and incubated for 21 days to investigate the chondrogenic potential of hydrogel scaffolds. Cell proliferation analyses were performed using WST-1 assay, GAG content was analyzed, SEM and fluorescence imaging observed morphologies and cell attachment, and histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed. The in vitro analysis showed no cytotoxic effect and enabled cells to attach, proliferate, and migrate inside the scaffold. In conclusion, the hydrogel composite scaffold is a promising material for engineering meniscus tissue.

Recent Developments and Current Applications of Organic Nanomaterials in Cartilage Repair

Regeneration of cartilage is difficult due to the unique microstructure, unique multizone organization, and avascular nature of cartilage tissue. The development of nanomaterials and nanofabrication technologies holds great promise for the repair and regeneration of injured or degenerated cartilage tissue. Nanomaterials have structural components smaller than 100 nm in at least one dimension and exhibit unique properties due to their nanoscale structure and high specific surface area. The unique properties of nanomaterials include, but are not limited to, increased chemical reactivity, mechanical strength, degradability, and biocompatibility. As an emerging nanomaterial, organic nanocomposites can mimic natural cartilage in terms of microstructure, physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. The integration of organic nanomaterials is expected to develop scaffolds that better mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment of cartilage to enhance scaffold-cell interactions and improve the functionality of engineered tissue constructs. Next-generation hydrogel technology and bioprinting can be used not only for healing cartilage injury areas but also for extensive osteoarthritic degenerative changes within the joint. Although more challenges need to be solved before they can be translated into full-fledged commercial products, nano-organic composites remain very promising candidates for the future development of cartilage tissue engineering.

Multifunctional silicon calcium phosphate composite scaffolds promote stem cell recruitment and bone regeneration

A scaffold is one of the most significant implants for treating bone injury, while the precise control of stem cell proliferation and differentiation within a scaffold is still challenging. In this work, a composite scaffold was designed to be capable of recruiting endogenous stem cells, stimulating osteogenic differentiation and achieving significant bone repair function. The designed SiCP + SF@PFS silica-calcium phosphate composite scaffold was obtained by mixing the peptide PFS containing silk fibroin solution with the SiCP scaffold, and treating with horseradish peroxidase and H₂O₂. The results showed that the composite scaffold was able to release the PFS peptide continuously to induce the migration of mesenchymal stem cells. Meanwhile, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were also improved after being seeded on the scaffold. In the cranial defect rat model, the composite scaffold was able to recruit CD29⁺ and CD90⁺ cells one week after implantation around the injury sites. The results of Micro-CT, H&E staining, Masson's staining and immunohistochemical staining indicated that the composite scaffold was able to promote new bone formation significantly.

Chitosan/Silk Fibroin Materials for Biomedical Applications-A Review

This review provides a report on recent advances in the field of chitosan (CTS) and silk fibroin (SF) biopolymer blends as new biomaterials. Chitosan and silk fibroin are widely used to obtain biomaterials. However, the materials based on the blends of these two biopolymers have not been summarized in a review paper yet. As these materials can attract both academic and industrial attention, we propose this review paper to showcase the latest achievements in this area. In this review, the latest literature regarding the preparation and properties of chitosan and silk fibroin and their blends has been reviewed.

Cartilage Tissue Engineering Approaches Need to Assess Fibrocartilage When Hydrogel Constructs Are Mechanically Loaded

Chondrocytes that are impregnated within hydrogel constructs sense applied mechanical force and can respond by expressing collagens, which are deposited into the extracellular matrix (ECM). The intention of most cartilage tissue engineering is to form hyaline cartilage, but if mechanical stimulation pushes the ratio of collagen type I (Col1) to collagen type II (Col2) in the ECM too high, then fibrocartilage can form instead. With a focus on Col1 and Col2 expression, the first part of this article reviews the latest studies on hyaline cartilage regeneration within hydrogel constructs that are subjected to compression forces (one of the major types of the forces within joints) in vitro. Since the mechanical loading conditions involving compression and other forces in joints are difficult to reproduce in vitro, implantation of hydrogel constructs in vivo is also reviewed, again with a focus on Col1 and Col2 production within the newly formed cartilage. Furthermore, mechanotransduction pathways that may be related to the expression of Col1 and Col2 within chondrocytes are reviewed and examined. Also, two recently-emerged, novel approaches of load-shielding and synchrotron radiation (SR)–based imaging techniques are discussed and highlighted for future applications to the regeneration of hyaline cartilage. Going forward, all cartilage tissue engineering experiments should assess thoroughly whether fibrocartilage or hyaline cartilage is formed.

Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenic Protein-2 Immobilized Fabrication of Magnesium Functionalized Injectable Hydrogels for Controlled-Delivery and Osteogenic Differentiation of Rat Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Femoral Head Necrosis Repair

Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is a clinically progressive disease that leads to overwhelming complications without an effective therapeutic approach. In recent decades, transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has played a promising role in the treatment of FHN in the initial stage; however, the success rate is still low because of unsuitable cell carriers and abridged osteogenic differentiation of the transplanted MSCs. Biopolymeric-derived hydrogels have been extensively applied as effective cell carriers and drug vesicles; they provide the most promising contributions in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the clinical potential of hydrogels may be limited because of inappropriate gelation, swelling, mechanical characteristics, toxicity in the cross-linking process, and self-healing ability. Naturally, gelated commercial hydrogels are not suitable for cell injection and infiltration because of their static network structure. In this study, we designed a novel thermogelling injectable hydrogel using natural silk fibroin-blended chitosan (CS) incorporated with magnesium (Mg) substitutes to improve physical cross-linking, stability, and cell osteogenic compatibility. The presented observations demonstrate that the developed injectable hydrogels can facilitate the controlled delivery of immobilized recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (rBMSCs) with greater cell encapsulation efficiency, compatibility, and osteogenic differentiation. In addition, outcomes of in vivo animal studies established promising osteoinductive, bone mineral density, and bone formation rate after implantation of the injectable hydrogel scaffolds. Therefore, the developed hydrogels have great potential for clinical applications of FHN therapy.

Bioactive Silk Fibroin-Based Hybrid Biomaterials for Musculoskeletal Engineering: Recent Progress and Perspectives

Musculoskeletal engineering has been considered as a promising approach to customize regenerated tissue (such as bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament) via a self-healing performance. Recent advances have demonstrated the great potential of bioactive materials for regenerative medicine. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural polymer, is regarded as a remarkable bioactive material for musculoskeletal engineering thanks to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunability. To improve tissue-engineering performance, silk fibroin is hybridized with other biomaterials to form silk-fibroin-based hybrid biomaterials, which achieve superior mechanical and biological performance. Herein, we summarize the recent development of silk-based hybrid biomaterials in musculoskeletal tissue with reasonable generalization and classification, mainly including silk fibroin-based inorganic and organic hybrid biomaterials. The applied inorganics are composed of calcium phosphate, graphene oxide, titanium dioxide, silica, and bioactive glass, while the polymers include polycaprolactone, collagen (or gelatin), chitosan, cellulose, and alginate. This article mainly focuses on the physical and biological performances both in vitro and in vivo study of several common silk-based hybrid biomaterials in musculoskeletal engineering. The timely summary and highlight of silk-fibroin-based hybrid biomaterials will provide a research perspective to promote the further improvement and development of silk fibroin hybrid biomaterials for improved musculoskeletal engineering.

Ovarian Cell Encapsulation in an Enzymatically Crosslinked Silk-Based Hydrogel with Tunable Mechanical Properties

An artificial ovary is a promising approach for preserving fertility in prepubertal girls and women who cannot undergo current cryopreservation strategies. However, this approach is in its infancy, due to the possible challenges of creating a suitable 3D matrix for encapsulating ovarian follicles and stromal cells. To maintain the ovarian stromal cell viability and proliferation, as a first step towards developing an artificial ovary, in this study, a double network hydrogel with a high water swelling capacity (swelling index 15–19) was developed, based on phenol conjugated chitosan (Cs-Ph) and silk fibroin (SF) through an enzymatic crosslinking method using horseradish peroxidase. The addition of SF (1%) to Cs (1%) decreased the storage modulus (G’) from 3500 Pa (Cs1) to 1600 Pa (Cs-SF1), and the hydrogels with a rapid gelation kinetic produced a spatially homogeneous distribution of ovarian cells that demonstrated 167% proliferation after 7 days. This new Cs-SF hydrogel benefits from the toughness and flexibility of SF, and phenolic chemistry could provide the potential microstructure for encapsulating human ovarian stromal cells.

Chemical and physical Chitosan modification for designing enzymatic industrial biocatalysts: How to choose the best strategy?

Chitosan is one of the most abundant natural polymer worldwide, and due to its inherent characteristics, its use in industrial processes has been extensively explored. Because it is biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, hydrophilic, cheap, and has good physical-chemical stability, it is seen as an excellent alternative for the replacement of synthetic materials in the search for more sustainable production methodologies. Thus being, a possible biotechnological application of Chitosan is as a direct support for enzyme immobilization. However, its applicability is quite specific, and to overcome this issue, alternative pretreatments are required, such as chemical and physical modifications to its structure, enabling its use in a wider array of applications. This review aims to present the topic in detail, by exploring and discussing methods of employment of Chitosan in enzymatic immobilization processes with various enzymes, presenting its advantages and disadvantages, as well as listing possible chemical modifications and combinations with other compounds for formulating an ideal support for this purpose. First, we will present Chitosan emphasizing its characteristics that allow its use as enzyme support. Furthermore, we will discuss possible physicochemical modifications that can be made to Chitosan, mentioning the improvements obtained in each process. These discussions will enable a comprehensive comparison between, and an informed choice of, the best technologies concerning enzyme immobilization and the application conditions of the biocatalyst.

Methacrylated pullulan/polyethylene (glycol) diacrylate composite hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering

Pullulan hydrogels are widely used in tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, these hydrogels do not meet the requirements of articular cartilage repair because of their fast degradation rate and poor mechanical strength. Herein, we fabricated a hybrid hydrogel system by combining pullulan with synthetic polymers polyethylene (glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). In this study, pullulan was modified with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to obtain photo-crosslinkable methacrylated pullulan (PulMA). Moreover, the lithium phenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphinate (LAP) was used as a water-soluble UV photoinitiator to form the PulMA/PEGDA hydrogel by photopolymerization strategy. Compared with the pure PulMA hydrogel, the increase of PEGDA concentration led to a slower degradation rate and an increase of residual mass from 63.9% to 86.8%. There was about 8-fold increase in storage modulus (G') (reach to 16.0 × 10³ Pa) and 13-fold increase in compressive modulus (reach to 1.17 ± 0.17 MPa) with increasing the concentration of PEGDA to 15% (w/v) in the hydrogel. In cell culture in vitro, the rabbit's mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in the PulMA/PEGDA hydrogel could adhere and proliferate, indicating that the PulMA/PEGDA hydrogel had a good biocompatibility. Furthermore, the hydrogels supported glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, and chondrogenic phenotype of MSCs with TGF-β3-containing chondrogenic medium. This study demonstrated that the photo-crosslinking PulMA/PEGDA hydrogels, with good mechanical properties and slow degradation rate are promising scaffolds for cartilage repair and regeneration.

A self-healing and injectable hydrogel based on water-soluble chitosan and hyaluronic acid for vitreous substitute

Vitreous, an essential dioptric medium for the human eyes, must be filled with artificial materials once damaged. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) is one of the most important water-soluble chitosan derivatives with improved biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) was prepared as crosslinking reagent. CMCTS and OHA were used to develop a biocompatible, self-repairing and in-situ injectable hydrogel for vitreous substitutes. Results showed the hydrogel with controllable swelling properties, high transparency, acceptable cytocompatibility on mouse fibroblast L929 and histocompatibility in vivo. Furthermore, hydrogel was injected in-situ into the vitreous cavity after vitrectomy on New Zealand Rabbits, no significant and persistent adverse effects were observed during the 90-day follow-up period. In addition, the hydrogel maintained intraocular pressure of the operated eyes and the inherent position of the retina. Collectively, this injectable, biodegradable, nontoxic hydrogel possessed enormous potential to become a vitreous substitute material.

Stretchable silk fibroin hydrogels

Hydrogels derived from silk fibroin (SF) are attractive soft materials in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, SF hydrogels reported so far are generally brittle in tension limiting their load-bearing applications. We present here a novel strategy for preparing stretchable SF hydrogels by incorporating flexible polymer chains into the brittle SF network, which strengthen the interconnections between SF globules. We included N, N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) monomer and ammonium persulfate initiator into an aqueous SF solution containing a diepoxide cross-linker to in situ generate flexible poly (N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAA) chains. Moreover, instead of SF, methacrylated SF was used for the gel preparation to create an interconnected SF/PDMAA network. The free-radical polymerization of DMAA leads to the formation of PDMAA chains interconnecting globular SF molecules via their pendant vinyl groups. Incorporation of 2 w/v% DMAA into the SF network turns the brittle hydrogel into a stretchable one sustaining up to 370% elongation ratio. The mechanical properties of SF hydrogels could be adjusted by the amount of PDMAA incorporated into the SF network. The stretchable and tough SF hydrogels thus developed are suitable as a scaffold in tissue engineering and offer an advantage as a biomaterial over other SF-based biomaterials.

Cartilage regeneration with dual-drug-releasing injectable hydrogel/microparticle system: In vitro and in vivo study

In this study, we developed an injectable in situ forming hydrogel/microparticle system consisting of two drugs, melatonin and methylprednisolone, to investigate the capability of the system for chondrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. The chemical, mechanical, and rheological properties of the hydrogel/microparticle were investigated. For in vitro evaluation, the adipose-derived stem cells might be mixed with hydrogel/microparticles, then cellular viability was analyzed by acridine orange/propidium iodide and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and also dimethylmethylene blue assay were conducted to find the amount of proteoglycan. The real-time polymerase chain reaction for aggrecan, sex-determining region Y-Box 9, collagen I (COL1), and COL2 gene expression was performed after 14 and 21 days. For evaluation of cartilage regeneration, the samples were implanted in rabbit knees with cartilaginous experimental defects. Defects were created in both knees of three groups of rabbits. Group 1 was the control with no injection, and Groups 2 and 3 were loaded with hydrogel/cell and hydrogel/microparticle/cell; respectively. Then, after 3 and 6 months, histological evaluations of the defected sites were carried out. The amount of glycosaminoglycans after 14 and 21 days increased significantly in hydrogels/microparticles loaded with cells. The expression of marker genes was also significant in hydrogels/microparticles loaded with cells. According to histology analysis, the hydrogels/microparticles loaded with cells showed the best cartilage regeneration. Overall, our study revealed that the developed injectable hydrogel/microparticle can be used for cartilage regeneration.

Chitosan based bioactive materials in tissue engineering applications-A review

In recent years, there have been increasingly rapid advances of using bioactive materials in tissue engineering applications. Bioactive materials constitute many different structures based upon ceramic, metallic or polymeric materials, and can elicit specific tissue responses. However, most of them are relatively brittle, stiff, and difficult to form into complex shapes. Hence, there has been a growing demand for preparing materials with tailored physical, biological, and mechanical properties, as well as predictable degradation behavior. Chitosan-based materials have been shown to be ideal bioactive materials due to their outstanding properties such as formability into different structures, and fabricability with a wide range of bioactive materials, in addition to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review highlights scientific findings concerning the use of innovative chitosan-based bioactive materials in the fields of tissue engineering, with an outlook into their future applications. It also covers latest developments in terms of constituents, fabrication technologies, structural, and bioactive properties of these materials that may represent an effective solution for tissue engineering materials, making them a realistic clinical alternative in the near future.

An injectable carboxymethyl chitosan-methylcellulose-pluronic hydrogel for the encapsulation of meloxicam loaded nanoparticles

Hydrogel scaffolds have been frequently utilized due to their ability to absorb water and develop similar body cell conditions. Specific drug delivery to the tissues ensures less adverse side effects and more efficiency. In the present study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-methylcellulose (MC)-pluronic (P) and zinc chloride hydrogels containing meloxicam loaded into nanoparticles were developed and characterized. Nanoparticles were incorporated at 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5% (w/v). Hydrogels containing the same amounts of the meloxicam solution were also prepared. Gelation time, swelling and degradation of the hydrogels were investigated. Hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and rheological analysis. Meloxicam release, chondrocytes attachment and growth on the hydrogels were also studied. Gelation time, swelling and the degradation rate of the hydrogels were found to be decreased by nanoparticles and increased with the addition of the meloxicam solution. SEM images also showed three-dimensional networks. The ATR-FTIR bands were shifted to the lower wave numbers in the hydrogels containing nanoparticles and shifted to the upper ones in the hydrogels containing meloxicam solution. Storage (G') and loss (G″) modulus were increased by the nanoparticles and reduced by the meloxicam solution. 100% of meloxicam was released from the hydrogels containing the meloxicam solution within 20 days, but it was released slowly from the hydrogels containing nanoparticles in 37days. Chondrocytes metabolic activity was increased on the 6th and 10th days for all hydrogels. Hydrogel containing nanoparticles showed good biocompatibility, bioadhesion, cell growth and expansion. The hydrogel could be, therefore, suitable as a new composite biomaterial for the regeneration of articular cartilage and meloxicam delivery to control the pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis.

Mitochondrial dependent pathway is involved in the protective effects of carboxymethylated chitosan on nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in chondrocytes

Background

Chondrocyte apoptosis activated by the mitochondrial dependent pathway serves a crucial role in cartilage degeneration of osteoarthritis (OA). In the present study, the protective effects of CMCS against sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced chondrocyte apoptosis were evaluated and the underlying molecular mechanisms were elucidated.

Methods

Chondrocytes were isolated from articular cartilage of SD rats and identified by type II collagen immunohistochemistry. The chondrocytes stimulated with or without SNP to induce apoptosis, were treated by CMCS for various concentrations. The cell viability were determined by MTT and LDH assays. Cell apoptotic ratio was determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was detected by using Rhodamine123 (Rho123) staining. To understand the mechanism, the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c (Cyt c) and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by real-time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively.

Results

It was shown using the MTT and LDH assays that CMCS protected the viability of chondrocyte against SNP damage. Annexin V-FITC/PI and Rho123 staining showed that CMCS not only inhibited the cell apoptosis but also restored the reduction of the ΔΨm in chondrocytes. In SNP-induced chondrocytes, CMCS down-regulated the expression of Bax, Cyt c and cleaved caspase-3 but upregulated the expression of Bcl-2, as shown by real-time PCR and western blot.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results indicated that CMCS has the protective effect on chondrocytes against SNP-induced apoptosis, at least partly, via inhibiting the mitochondrial dependent apoptotic pathway. Thus, CMCS may be potentially used as a biological agent for prevention and treatment of OA.

The Use of Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering for Cartilage Regeneration; Current Approaches and Future Perspectives

The repair and regeneration of articular cartilage represent important challenges for orthopedic investigators and surgeons worldwide due to its avascular, aneural structure, cellular arrangement, and dense extracellular structure. Although abundant efforts have been paid to provide tissue-engineered grafts, the use of therapeutically cell-based options for repairing cartilage remains unsolved in the clinic. Merging a clinical perspective with recent progress in nanotechnology can be helpful for developing efficient cartilage replacements. Nanomaterials, < 100 nm structural elements, can control different properties of materials by collecting them at nanometric sizes. The integration of nanomaterials holds promise in developing scaffolds that better simulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment of cartilage to enhance the interaction of scaffold with the cells and improve the functionality of the engineered-tissue construct. This technology not only can be used for the healing of focal defects but can also be used for extensive osteoarthritic degenerative alterations in the joint. In this review paper, we will emphasize the recent investigations of articular cartilage repair/regeneration via biomaterials. Also, the application of novel technologies and materials is discussed.

Incorporating chitin derived glucosamine sulfate into nanofibers via coaxial electrospinning for cartilage regeneration

Chitin is the second abundant natural polysaccharide, and the development of chitin and its derivatives have received more and more attention. Glucosamine sulfate (GAS) obtained by the hydrolysis of chitin can promote the growth of chondrocytes. The coaxial electrospinning technology had been utilized to encapsulated GAS into the core of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers. It could protect the GAS from the environment and allow it to release sustainably over time. From the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), PCL/GAS nanofibers performed a typical fiber scaffold surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results confirmed the feasibility to use coaxial electrospinning to load GAS. Tensile tests exhibited that PCL/GAS mats could be stretched more than twice its own length. Besides, the cell experiments illustrated that PCL/GAS had a significant effect on the proliferation and growth of rat articular chondrocytes, attesting its prospect for cartilage regeneration.