An alternative strategy to the use of in vitro expanded cells in regenerative medicine is the use of freshly isolated stromal cells, where a bioactive scaffold is used to provide an environment conductive to proliferation and tissue-specific differentiation in vivo.The objective of this study was to develop a cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) derived scaffold that could facilitate the rapid proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of freshly isolated stromal cells. By freeze-drying cryomilled cartilage ECM of differing concentrations, it was possible to produce scaffolds with a range of pore sizes. The migration, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of infrapatellar fat pad derived stem cells (FPSCs) depended on the concentration/porosity of these scaffolds, with greater sGAG accumulation observed in scaffolds with larger sized pores. We then sought to determine if freshly isolated fat pad derived stromal cells, seeded onto a TGF-β3 eluting ECM-derived scaffold, could promote chondrogenesis in vivo. While a more cartilage-like tissue could be generated using culture expanded FPSCs compared to non-enriched freshly isolated cells, fresh CD44 + stromal cells were capable of producing a tissue in vivo that stained strongly for sGAGs and type II collagen. These findings open up new possibilities for in-theatre cell based therapies for joint regeneration.3

No abstract

An alternative to the use of in vitro expanded cells in regenerative medicine is the use of freshly isolated stromal cells, where a bioactive scaffold or hydrogel is used to provide an environment that enhances their proliferation and tissue-specific differentiation in vivo. The objective of this study was to develop an injectable fibrin hydrogel functionalized with cartilage ECM micro-particles and the growth factor TGF-β3 as a therapeutic for articular cartilage regeneration. This study demonstrates that freshly isolated stromal cells generate cartilage tissue in vivo when incorporated into such a fibrin hydrogels functionalized with cartilage ECM particles. These findings open up new possibilities for in-theatre, single-stage, cell-based therapies for joint regeneration.

No abstract

No abstract