Superwettable and injectable GelMA-MSC microspheres promote cartilage repair in temporomandibular joints

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be treated by promoting cartilage regeneration with biomaterials. However, there are deficiencies in the infiltration function of bone filler biological materials. In this study, stems cells were loaded onto gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel microspheres endowed with superwettable properties and TGF-β sustained-release function, which can quickly infiltrate the irregular surface of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bone defect area and accelerate cartilage healing. First, to improve cell adhesion and spreading function, the BMSCs-coated GelMA microspheres were endowed with superwetting property. At the same time, the swelling adsorption characteristics of gelatin microspheres could be used to load recombinant TGF-β within the microspheres, which could in turn promote the chondrogenic differentiation of multi-potent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The SEM imaging demonstrated that BMSCs-coated GelMA microsphere has superwettable and superhydrophilic property, which enabled rapid adaptation to the bone defect surface morphology, which is conducive to tissue repair. Furthermore, the cartilage defect model showed that rBMSCs-coated GelMA microspheres promote temporomandibular joint arthritis repair. In conclusion, our study established that BMSC-coated GelMA microspheres endowed with superwetting properties, can colonize the bone defect repair site better with sustained release of growth factors, thus providing an innovative strategy for promoting cartilage regeneration.

Gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel with and without dental pulp stem cells for TMJ regeneration: An in vivo study in rabbits

“…This supports the hypothesis that 4 weeks is insufficient for signs of cartilage repair to be manifested. These results contrast our previous mouse study 26 and recent animal studies, 15,16 where condylar cartilage and the subchondral bone layer regeneration were observed. Some potential factors may contribute to this apparent contradiction.…”

“…At 4 weeks, the defect appeared enlarged with a layer of fibrous tissue on its surface. Yang et al., 16 in a rat TMJOA model, showed significantly greater new bone and cartilage formation of an rBMSCs‐coated GelMA microsphere group compared with the microspheres and the control groups. Micro‐CT results also indicated that the rBMSCs‐coated GelMA microsphere group had denser trabecular bone within the TMJ condyle.…”

“…13,14 Shi et al 15 reported that human salivary histatin-1-functionalized GelMA (Hst1/GelMA) hydrogels regenerated both the cartilage and subchondral bone in the TMJ condyle of rabbits. Yang et al 16 showed that rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) loaded onto GelMA hydrogel microspheres promoted cartilage repair in the TMJ condyle of rats.…”

Global Trends and Future Research Directions for Temporomandibular Disorders and Stem Cells

“…Twelve articles received only one citation [ 11 , 18 , 28 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Ten articles were not cited in Wos-CC [ 27 , 29 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”

“…Wang et al [ 101 ] evaluated in vivo and in vitro the effects of an injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (BMSC-sEVs) on cartilage reconstruction with a TMJOA model in rabbits and confirmed that the BMSC-sEVs may play an important role in cartilage reconstruction in TMJOA via the autotaxin–YAP signaling axis. [ 49 ] also analyzed in vitro and in vivo the effects of an intra-articular injection of MSCs by placing these cells on the surface of TGFβ-loaded GelMA microspheres in a model of TMJ arthritis bilaterally induced in rats. They concluded that BMSCs-coated microspheres can effectively promote the repair and reconstruction of cartilage defects within the TMJ arthritis.…”