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Comparing Single Cell Versus Pellet Encapsulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels for Cartilage Regeneration.

ABSTRACT: While the gold standard for inducing mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis utilizes pellet culture, most tissue engineering strategies for cartilage regeneration encapsulate MSCs as single cells, partially due to the technical challenge to homogeneously encapsulate cell pellets in three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels. It remains unclear whether encapsulating MSCs as single cell suspension or cell aggregates in 3D hydrogels would enhance MSC-based cartilage formation. In this study, we determined that the optimal size of MSC micropellets (?Pellets) that can be homogeneously encapsulated in hydrogels with high cell viability is 100 cells/pellet. Using optimized ?Pellet size, MSCs were encapsulated either as single cell suspension or ?Pellets in four soft hydrogel formulations with stiffness ranging 3-6?kPa. Regardless of hydrogel formulations, single cell encapsulation resulted in more neocartilage deposition with improved mechanical functions over ?Pellet encapsulation. For single cell encapsulation, polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels containing chondroitin sulfate led to the most cartilage matrix deposition, with compressive modulus reaching 211?kPa after only 21 days, a range approaching the stiffness of native cartilage. The findings from this study offer valuable insights on guiding optimal method design for MSCs and hydrogel-based cartilage regeneration. The optimized ?Pellet encapsulation method may be broadly applicable to encapsulate other stem cell types or cancer cells as aggregates in hydrogels. Impact Statement While the gold standard for inducing mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis utilizes pellet culture, it remains unclear whether encapsulating MSCs as cell pellets in three-dimensional hydrogels would enhance MSC-based cartilage formation. In this study, we determined the optimal size of MSC micropellet (?Pellet) that can be homogeneously encapsulated in hydrogels with high cell viability. Unexpectedly, single cell encapsulation resulted in more robust new cartilage formation than ?Pellet encapsulation. Furthermore, tuning hydrogel formulation led to rapid cartilage regeneration with stiffness approaching that of native cartilage. The findings from this study would facilitate clinical translation of MSCs and hydrogel-based therapies for cartilage regeneration with optimized parameters.

SUBMITTER: Rogan H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6784495 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Cartilage injury represents a frequent dilemma in clinical practice owing to its inherently limited self-renewal capacity. Biomimetic strategy-based engineered biomaterial, capable of coordinated regulation for cellular and microenvironmental crosstalk, provides an adequate avenue to boost cartilage regeneration. The level of oxidative stress in microenvironments is verified to be vital for tissue regeneration, yet it is often overlooked in engineered biomaterials for cartilage regeneration. Herein, inspired by natural cartilage architecture, a fibril-network glycopeptide hydrogel (Nap-FFGRGD@FU), composed of marine-derived polysaccharide fucoidan (FU) and naphthalenephenylalanine-phenylalanine-glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic peptide (Nap-FFGRGD), was presented through a simple supramolecular self-assembly approach. The Nap-FFGRGD@FU hydrogels exhibit a native cartilage-like architecture, characterized by interwoven collagen fibers and attached proteoglycans. Beyond structural simulation, fucoidan-exerted robust biological effects and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence-provided cell attachment sites realized functional reinforcement, synergistically promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination, thus contributing to chondrocytes-ECM harmony. In vitro co-culture with glycopeptide hydrogels not only facilitated cartilage ECM anabolic metabolism but also scavenged ROS accumulation in chondrocytes. Mechanistically, the chondro-protective effects induced by glycopeptide hydrogels rely on the activation of endogenous antioxidant pathways associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). In vivo implantation of glycopeptide hydrogels successfully improved the de novo cartilage generation by 1.65-fold, concomitant with coordinately restructured subchondral bone structure. Collectively, our ingeniously crafted bionic glycopeptide hydrogels simultaneously rewired chondrocytes' function by augmenting anabolic metabolism and rebuilt ECM microenvironment via preserving redox equilibrium, holding great potential for cartilage tissue engineering.

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Comparing Single Cell Versus Pellet Encapsulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Three-Dimensional Hydrogels for Cartilage Regeneration.

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