Comparison of engineered cartilage based on BMSCs and chondrocytes seeded on PVA‐PPU scaffold in a sheep model

Abstract

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel chains were crosslinked by polyurethane in order to synthesize a suitable substrate for cartilage lesions. The substrate was fully characterized, and in vitro and in vivo investigations were conducted based on a sheep model. In vitro tests were performed based on the chondrocyte cells with the Alcian Blue and safranin O staining in order to prove the presence of proteoglycan on the surface of the synthesized substrate, which has been secreted by cultures of chondrocytes. Furthermore, the expression of collagen type I, collagen type II, aggrecan, and Sox9 was presented in the chondrocyte cultures on the synthesized substrate through RT-PCR. In addition, the H&E analysis and other related tests demonstrated the formation of neocartilage tissue in a sheep model. The results were found to be promising for cartilage tissue engineering and verified that the isolated chondrocyte cultures on the synthesized substrate retain their original composition. K E Y W O R D S cartilage tissue engineering, polyvinyl alcohol-polyurethane composite, sheep model 1 | INTRODUCTION Joint problems such as traumatic lesions of articular hyaline cartilages in athletes and people have created a major challenge in the general public health. Cartilage damages in both severe injuries and osteoarthritis are irreversible processes with no approved medical product for complete repair of cartilage dysfunction. 1 Articular cartilage has a limited capacity of self-repair due to its low cellularity and avascular matrix. A Masoud Taghizadehjahed and Asma Sepahdar contributed equally to this work.