Journal of Tissue Engineering and Reconstructive Surgery ›› 2017, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (3): 131-159.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-0364.2017.03.004

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Feasibility of Using Cell-Hydrogel to Integrate PCL Inner Support with Cell-Sheet

XU Yawen1,2, HE A ijuan1,2,LIU Yu2,3, ZHOU Guangdong1,2, 3, CAO Yilin1,2   

  1. 1 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People ＇s HospitaL, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China, 2 Shanghai Key laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai 200011, China, 3 Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Weifang Medical College, Weifang 261042, China.）
  • Published:2020-07-23

Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of using sandwich model, PCL as an inner support encapsulated by chondrocyte sheet, to create tissue-engineered (TE) cartilage; To explore the feasibility of integrating PCL with chondrocyte sheet by injecting the mixture of Pluronic F-127 hydrogel and chondrocytes. Methods The isolated auricular chondrocytes of passage 1 were seeded in six-well plate at a high density. Chondrocyte sheet formed after 4 weeks in vitro. PCL inner support encapsulated by chondrocyte sheet was set up as non-treated control group (NC group). Sandwich model injected with Pluronic F-127 hydrogel was set up as control group (PC group). Sandwich model injected with the mixture of Pluronic F-127 hydrogel and chondrocytes was set up as the experiment group (Exp group). The above constructs were implanted subcutaneously into the same nude mice (n=8). The samples were harvested 12 weeks after implantation for the evaluation of cartilage formation. Results After in vitro high cell-density culture, chondrocyte sheet formed into cartilaginous tissue. Histologically, sheet showed specific cartilage characters including cartilage lacunae and expressed GAG and collagen Ⅱ. After in vivo culture, sheet from the "sandwich" structure formed more mature cartilaginous tissue with smooth surface and flexible texture. The results of wet weight, thickness and volume from every group were significantly different. However, there was no significant difference for Young's modulus. Histologically, an abundance of cartilage-like tissue was found between PCL inner support and chondrocyte sheet in Exp group, strongly expressing GAG. Although sheet developed into mature cartilage tissue in the NC and PC group, none of cartilaginous tissue was found between the PCL inner support and chondrocyte sheet. Conclusion PCL inner support encapsulated by chondrocyte sheet could construct TE cartilage with high mechanical strength. The approach of injection with the mixture of Pluronic F-127 hydrogel and chondrocytes could realize the cartilaginous integration of PCL inner support and chondrocyte sheet.

Key words: Tissue engineering, PCL inner support, Cartilage sheet, Thermo-sensitive gel

CLC Number: