Bovine primary chondrocyte culture in synthetic matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels as a scaffold for cartilage repair

Park, Yongdoo; Lutolf, Matthias P; Hubbell, Jeffrey A; Hunziker, Ernst B; Wong, Marcy (2004). Bovine primary chondrocyte culture in synthetic matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels as a scaffold for cartilage repair. Tissue engineering, 10(3-4), pp. 515-22. Larchmont, N.Y.: Mary Ann Liebert 10.1089/107632704323061870

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A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel was used as a scaffold for chondrocyte culture. Branched PEG-vinylsulfone macromers were end-linked with thiol-bearing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive peptides (GCRDGPQGIWGQDRCG) to form a three-dimensional network in situ under physiologic conditions. Both four- and eight-armed PEG macromer building blocks were examined. Increasing the number of PEG arms increased the elastic modulus of the hydrogels from 4.5 to 13.5 kPa. PEG-dithiol was used to prepare hydrogels that were not sensitive to degradation by cell-derived MMPs. Primary bovine calf chondrocytes were cultured in both MMP-sensitive and MMP-insensitive hydrogels, formed from either four- or eight-armed PEG. Most (>90%) of the cells inside the gels were viable after 1 month of culture and formed cell clusters. Gel matrices with lower elastic modulus and sensitivity to MMP-based matrix remodeling demonstrated larger clusters and more diffuse, less cell surface-constrained cell-derived matrix in the chondron, as determined by light and electron microscopy. Gene expression experiments by real-time RT-PCR showed that the expression of type II collagen and aggrecan was increased in the MMP-sensitive hydrogels, whereas the expression level of MMP-13 was increased in the MMP-insensitive hydrogels. These results indicate that cellular activity can be modulated by the composition of the hydrogel. This study represents one of the first examples of chondrocyte culture in a bioactive synthetic material that can be remodeled by cellular protease activity.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Orthopädische Chirurgie 04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Orthopädische Chirurgie
UniBE Contributor:	Hunziker, Ernst Bruno
ISSN:	1076-3279
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:12
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:22
Publisher DOI:	10.1089/107632704323061870
PubMed ID:	15165468
Web of Science ID:	000221105000021
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/31689 (FactScience: 196348)