Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan
Long-term solutions for cartilage repair after injury are currently being investigated, with most research aiming to exploit the regenerative and chondrogenic differentiation potential of stem-cell-based spheroids. The incorporation of the bioactive polymer CTL, a lactose-modified chitosan, into sph...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Polysaccharides |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/6/2/47 |
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| author | Marco Conz Francesca Scognamiglio Ivan Donati Susi Zara Gabriella Teti Maurizio Romano Eleonora Marsich |
| author_facet | Marco Conz Francesca Scognamiglio Ivan Donati Susi Zara Gabriella Teti Maurizio Romano Eleonora Marsich |
| author_sort | Marco Conz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-term solutions for cartilage repair after injury are currently being investigated, with most research aiming to exploit the regenerative and chondrogenic differentiation potential of stem-cell-based spheroids. The incorporation of the bioactive polymer CTL, a lactose-modified chitosan, into spheroids is a strategy to improve cell viability and accelerate type II collagen gene expression. In this work, the role of CTL in influencing the dynamics of spheroid formation and its interplay with cell membrane adhesion molecules (integrins and cadherins) and cytoskeletal components is elucidated. The results indicate that CTL is actively involved in the reorganization of cells into spheroids. An analysis of the effects of physical form of CTL (rehydrated polymer coating or polymer solution) in stimulating peculiar biological responses indicates that CTL matrix in spheroids facilitates an early phase of chondrogenic differentiation. Once the CTL matrix is included in spheroids, there is an increase in COL2A1 gene expression and matrix deposition, regardless of the initial physical form of CTL. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of spheroid formation in the presence of the polymer and on its bioactive role in mesenchymal stem cell spheroids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00695cf2fedd4340a5bf5e5c8a0baf53 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4176 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Polysaccharides |
| spelling | doaj-art-00695cf2fedd4340a5bf5e5c8a0baf532025-08-20T03:29:44ZengMDPI AGPolysaccharides2673-41762025-06-01624710.3390/polysaccharides6020047Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified ChitosanMarco Conz0Francesca Scognamiglio1Ivan Donati2Susi Zara3Gabriella Teti4Maurizio Romano5Eleonora Marsich6Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Alfonso Valerio 28, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza dell’Ospitale 1, 34129 Trieste, ItalyLong-term solutions for cartilage repair after injury are currently being investigated, with most research aiming to exploit the regenerative and chondrogenic differentiation potential of stem-cell-based spheroids. The incorporation of the bioactive polymer CTL, a lactose-modified chitosan, into spheroids is a strategy to improve cell viability and accelerate type II collagen gene expression. In this work, the role of CTL in influencing the dynamics of spheroid formation and its interplay with cell membrane adhesion molecules (integrins and cadherins) and cytoskeletal components is elucidated. The results indicate that CTL is actively involved in the reorganization of cells into spheroids. An analysis of the effects of physical form of CTL (rehydrated polymer coating or polymer solution) in stimulating peculiar biological responses indicates that CTL matrix in spheroids facilitates an early phase of chondrogenic differentiation. Once the CTL matrix is included in spheroids, there is an increase in COL2A1 gene expression and matrix deposition, regardless of the initial physical form of CTL. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of spheroid formation in the presence of the polymer and on its bioactive role in mesenchymal stem cell spheroids.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/6/2/47spheroidspolysaccharideschondrogenesiscartilagecollagencell adhesion molecules |
| spellingShingle | Marco Conz Francesca Scognamiglio Ivan Donati Susi Zara Gabriella Teti Maurizio Romano Eleonora Marsich Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan Polysaccharides spheroids polysaccharides chondrogenesis cartilage collagen cell adhesion molecules |
| title | Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan |
| title_full | Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan |
| title_fullStr | Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan |
| title_short | Early Chondrogenic Differentiation of Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration: Investigation of the Structural and Biological Role of a Lactose-Modified Chitosan |
| title_sort | early chondrogenic differentiation of spheroids for cartilage regeneration investigation of the structural and biological role of a lactose modified chitosan |
| topic | spheroids polysaccharides chondrogenesis cartilage collagen cell adhesion molecules |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4176/6/2/47 |
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