@article {17598, title = {Gelatin microparticles aggregates as three-dimensional scaffolding system in cartilage engineering}, journal = {JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN MEDICINE}, volume = {24}, year = {2013}, month = {2013-02-01 00:00:00}, pages = {503-513}, publisher = {SPRINGER, VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

\ A\ three-dimensional\ (3D)\ scaffoldingsystem\ for chondrocytes culture has been produced by agglomeration of cells and\ gelatinmicroparticleswith a mild centrifuging process. The diameter of the\ microparticles, around 10 mu, was selected to be\ in\ the order of magnitude of the chondrocytes. No gel was used to stabilize the construct that maintained consistency just because of cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion to the substrate.\ In\ one series of samples the\ microparticles\ were charged with transforming growth factor, TGF-beta 1. The kinetics of growth factor delivery was assessed. The initial delivery was approximately 48 \% of the total amount delivered up to day 14. Chondrocytes that had been previously expanded\ in\ monolayer culture, and thus dedifferentiated, adopted\ in\ this 3D environment a round morphology, both with presence or absence of growth factor delivery, with production of ECM that intermingles with\ gelatin\ particles. The pellet was stable from the first day of culture. Cell viability was assessed by MTS assay, showing higher absorption values\ in\ the cell/unloaded\ gelatin\ microparticle pellets than\ in\ cell pellets up to day 7. Nevertheless the absorption drops\ in\ the following culture times. On the contrary the cell viability of cell/TGF-beta 1 loaded\ gelatin\ microparticle pellets was constant during the 21 days of culture. The formation of actin stress fibres\ in\ the cytoskeleton and type I collagen expression was significantly reduced\ in\ both cell/gelatin\ microparticle pellets (with and without TGF-beta 1) with respect to cell pellet controls. Total type II collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycans quantification show an enhancement of the production of ECM when TGF-beta 1 is delivered,\ as\ expected because this growth factor stimulate the chondrocyte proliferation and improve the functionality of the tissue.

}, keywords = {CHONDROCYTE TRANSPLANTATION, CONTROLLED-RELEASE, DELIVERY, GROWTH-FACTORS, HYALURONIC-ACID, Hydrogels, IN-VITRO, MESENCHYMAL STEM-CELLS, regenerative medicine, TISSUE}, issn = { 0957-4530}, doi = {10.1007/s10856-012-4818-9}, url = {http://apps.webofknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=UA\&search_mode=GeneralSearch\&qid=5\&SID=R26mYWbF6MIAgV5us3R\&page=1\&doc=1}, author = {Cruz, D. M. G. and Sardinha, V. and Ivirico, J. L. E. and Mano, J. F. and Ribelles, J. L. G.} }