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Chondrocyte redifferentiation in 3D: The effect of adhesion site density and substrate elasticity
Citation
Schuh, E and Hofmann, S and Stok, K and Notbohm, H and Muller, R and Rotter, N, Chondrocyte redifferentiation in 3D: The effect of adhesion site density and substrate elasticity, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A, 100A, (1) pp. 38-47. ISSN 1549-3296 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abstract
To obtain sufficient cell numbers for cartilage tissue engineering with autologous chondrocytes, cells are typically expanded in monolayer culture. As a result, they lose their chondrogenic phenotype in a process called dedifferentiation, which can be reversed upon transfer into a 3D environment. We hypothesize that the properties of this 3D environment, namely adhesion site density and substrate elasticity, would influence this redifferentiation process. To test this hypothesis, chondrocytes were expanded in monolayer and their phenotypical transition was monitored. Agarose hydrogels manipulated to give different RGD adhesion site densities and mechanical properties were produced, cells were incorporated into the gels to induce redifferentiation, and constructs were analyzed to determine cell number and extracellular matrix production after 2 weeks of 3D culture. The availability of adhesion sites within the gels inhibited cellular redifferentiation. Glycosaminoglycan production per cell was diminished by RGD in a dose-dependent manner and cells incorporated into gels with the highest RGD density, remained positive for collagen type I and produced the least collagen type II. Substrate stiffness, in contrast, did not influence cellular redifferentiation, but softer gels contained higher cell numbers and ECM amounts after 2 weeks of culture. Our results indicate that adhesion site density but not stiffness influences the redifferentiation process of chondrocytes in 3D. This knowledge might be used to optimize the redifferentiation process of chondrocytes and thus the formation of cartilage-like tissue.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | chondrocytes, elasticity, redifferentiation, RGD, tissue engineering |
| Research Division: | Engineering |
| Research Group: | Biomedical Engineering |
| Research Field: | Biomechanical Engineering |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in Engineering |
| UTAS Author: | Stok, K (Dr Kathryn Stok) |
| ID Code: | 133131 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 56 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2019-06-13 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-08-06 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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