A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell

Articular cartilage regeneration is a major challenge in orthopedic medicine. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine applications. However, their roles and functions in cartilage regeneration are not well understood. Additionally, thermosensitive ch...

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Main Authors: Tzu-Hsiang Lin, Hsueh-Chun Wang, Yau-Lin Tseng, Ming-Long Yeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Materials Today Bio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006424002357
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author Tzu-Hsiang Lin
Hsueh-Chun Wang
Yau-Lin Tseng
Ming-Long Yeh
author_facet Tzu-Hsiang Lin
Hsueh-Chun Wang
Yau-Lin Tseng
Ming-Long Yeh
author_sort Tzu-Hsiang Lin
collection DOAJ
description Articular cartilage regeneration is a major challenge in orthopedic medicine. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine applications. However, their roles and functions in cartilage regeneration are not well understood. Additionally, thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels have been widely used in tissue engineering, but further development of these hydrogels incorporating vascular lineage cells for cartilage repair is insufficient. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the ability of EPCs to undergo endothelial–mesenchymal stem cell transdifferentiation and chondrogenic differentiation and investigate the ability of chondrogenic EPC-seeded thermosensitive chitosan-graft-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (CEPC-CSPN) scaffolds to improve healing in a rabbit osteochondral defect (OCD) model. EPCs were isolated and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1); these EPCs are subsequently termed transdifferentiated EPCs (tEPCs). The stem cell-like properties and chondrogenic potential of tEPCs were evaluated by a series of in vitro assays. Furthermore, the effect of CEPC-CSPN scaffolds on OCD repair was evaluated. Our in vitro results confirmed that treatment of EPC with TGF-β1 induced EndMT and the acquisition of stem cell-like properties, producing tEPCs. Upon inducing chondrogenic differentiation of tEPCs (CEPCs), the cells exhibited significantly enhanced chondrogenesis and chondrocyte surface markers after 25 days. The TGF-β1-induced differentiation of EPCs is mediated by both the TGF-β/Smad and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathways. The CEPC-CSPN scaffold reconstructed well-integrated translucent cartilage and repaired subchondral bone in vivo, exhibiting regenerative capacity. Collectively, our results suggest that the CEPC-CSPN scaffold induces OCD repair, representing a promising approach to articular cartilage regeneration.
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spelling doaj-art-2be8b16d485244eab4bbf8db89dc30932025-08-20T01:54:45ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642024-10-012810117410.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101174A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cellTzu-Hsiang Lin0Hsueh-Chun Wang1Yau-Lin Tseng2Ming-Long Yeh3Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Medical Imaging Center, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, TaiwanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, TaiwanDepartment of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Medical Imaging Center, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, TaiwanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Innovation Headquarters, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd., Tainan, 701, Taiwan.Articular cartilage regeneration is a major challenge in orthopedic medicine. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine applications. However, their roles and functions in cartilage regeneration are not well understood. Additionally, thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels have been widely used in tissue engineering, but further development of these hydrogels incorporating vascular lineage cells for cartilage repair is insufficient. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the ability of EPCs to undergo endothelial–mesenchymal stem cell transdifferentiation and chondrogenic differentiation and investigate the ability of chondrogenic EPC-seeded thermosensitive chitosan-graft-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (CEPC-CSPN) scaffolds to improve healing in a rabbit osteochondral defect (OCD) model. EPCs were isolated and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1); these EPCs are subsequently termed transdifferentiated EPCs (tEPCs). The stem cell-like properties and chondrogenic potential of tEPCs were evaluated by a series of in vitro assays. Furthermore, the effect of CEPC-CSPN scaffolds on OCD repair was evaluated. Our in vitro results confirmed that treatment of EPC with TGF-β1 induced EndMT and the acquisition of stem cell-like properties, producing tEPCs. Upon inducing chondrogenic differentiation of tEPCs (CEPCs), the cells exhibited significantly enhanced chondrogenesis and chondrocyte surface markers after 25 days. The TGF-β1-induced differentiation of EPCs is mediated by both the TGF-β/Smad and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathways. The CEPC-CSPN scaffold reconstructed well-integrated translucent cartilage and repaired subchondral bone in vivo, exhibiting regenerative capacity. Collectively, our results suggest that the CEPC-CSPN scaffold induces OCD repair, representing a promising approach to articular cartilage regeneration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006424002357Thermosensitive injectable hydrogelsEndothelial progenitor cellsEndothelial-to-mesenchymal transitionChondrogenesisOsteochondral regeneration
spellingShingle Tzu-Hsiang Lin
Hsueh-Chun Wang
Yau-Lin Tseng
Ming-Long Yeh
A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
Materials Today Bio
Thermosensitive injectable hydrogels
Endothelial progenitor cells
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Chondrogenesis
Osteochondral regeneration
title A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
title_full A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
title_fullStr A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
title_full_unstemmed A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
title_short A bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell-derived chondrogenic cell
title_sort bioactive composite scaffold enhances osteochondral repair by using thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel and endothelial lineage cell derived chondrogenic cell
topic Thermosensitive injectable hydrogels
Endothelial progenitor cells
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Chondrogenesis
Osteochondral regeneration
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006424002357
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