Chondrocytic differentiation of human adipose-derived adult stem cells in elastin-like polypeptide

2010 Nicolas Andry Award: Multipotent Adult Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering

“…At the mRNA level, ASCs seeded in ELP showed upregulated SOX9 and type II collagen gene expression, whereas type I collagen was downregulated. These findings provide additional evidence of the chondrogenic ability of ASCs and the ability of biomaterial scaffolds to directly control stem cell differentiation [35], even in the absence of exogenous growth factors [6].…”

Biomimetic materials for tissue engineering

“…Certain elastin-mimetic triblock (hydrophobichydrophylic-hydrophobic) copolymers have also been developed to self-assemble into thermoreversible hydrogels [33]. ELPs are promising scaffolding materials for certain tissue engineering applications [34]. Inspired by the natural elastomeric proteins, a small nonmechanical protein GB1 (the streptococcal B1 immunoglobulin-binding domain of protein G) was recently engineered into a polyprotein (GB1) 8 and was found to have excellent elastomeric properties [35], which could be a candidate material for tissue engineering scaffolds.…”

In SituCrosslinking Elastin-Like Polypeptide Gels for Application to Articular Cartilage Repair in a Goat Osteochondral Defect Model*

“…32 We have also shown that ELPs retain this ability when they are enzymatically crosslinked. 24 However, these uncrosslinked and enzymatically crosslinked ELPs were not suitable for implantation in a cartilage defect because their mechanical properties were inadequate for contributing to load support.…”

“…As ELP was delivered completely cell-free in this study, the presumed source of infiltrating cells was bone marrow space or adjacent synovium. We have previously shown that undifferentiated cells synthesize cartilaginous matrix components when cultured in ELPs, 32 suggesting that the crosslinked ELP in the defects would not only contribute to an ability to sustain load, but would have the potential to promote chondrocytic differentiation of infiltrating cells. However, the addition of cells to the ELP at the time of injection may be desirable in future studies to potentially accelerate or improve healing.…”