Hyaluronan hydrogels with a low degree of modification as scaffolds for cartilage engineering

作者：La Gatta Annalisa; Ricci Giulia; Stellavato Antonietta; Cammarota Marcella; Filosa Rosanna; Papa Agata; D%apos; Agostino Antonella; Portaccio Marianna; Delfino Ines; De Rosa Mario; Schiraldi Chiara

来源：International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2017, 103: 978-989.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.05.091

• Hyaluronan
• Crosslinking
• Hydrogels
• Chondrocytes
• Cartilage engineering

In the field of cartilage engineering, continuing efforts have focused on fabricating scaffolds that favor maintenance of the chondrocytic phenotype and matrix formation, in addition to providing a permeable, hydrated, microporous structure and mechanical support. The potential of hyaluronan-based hydrogels has been well established, but the ideal matrix remains to be developed.
This study describes the development of hyaluronan sponges-based scaffolds obtained by lysine methyl-ester crosslinking. The reaction conditions are optimized with minimal chemical modifications to obtain materials that closely resemble elements in physiological cellular environments. Three hydro gels with different amounts of crosslinkers were produced that show morphological, water-uptake, mechanical, and stability properties comparable or superior to those of currently available hyaluronan-scaffolds, but with significantly fewer hyaluronan modifications. Primary human chondrocytes cultured with the most promising hydrogel were viable and maintained lineage identity for 3 weeks. They also secreted cartilage-specific matrix proteins. These scaffolds represent promising candidates for cartilage engineering.

• 出版日期2017-10