Effect of chitosan scaffold microstructure on mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis

摘要: Although numerous biomaterials have been investigated as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering, the effect of their microstructure on final construct characteristics remains unclear. The biocompatibility chitosan and its similarity with glycosaminoglycans make it attractive a scaffold engineering. Our objective was to evaluate structure mesenchymal stem cell proliferation chondrogenesis. Chitosan fibrous sponges were seeded cells in chondrogenic medium. Constructs analyzed 72 h after seeding via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), weight measurements DNA quantification. cultured 10 or 21 days prior confocal microscopy, SEM, histology, quantitative analysis (weight, glycosaminoglycan (GAG)), real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mesenchymal maintained viability above 90% all scaffolds. numbers constructs similar at h, days. However, matrix production improved based GAG quantification collagen II mRNA expression. Chondrogenesis is superior microfibers compared macroporous sponges.