Behaviour of human mesenchymal stem cells on a polyelectrolyte-modified HEMA hydrogel for silk-based ligament tissue engineering

• Published in: Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed. Vol. 19; no. 9; pp. 1111 - 1123
• Main Authors: Bosetti, M., Boccafoschi, F., Calarco, A., Leigheb, M., Gatti, S., Piffanelli, V., Peluso, G., Cannas, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - metabolism; Cell Shape; Cells, Cultured; Collagen Type I - genetics; Collagen Type I - metabolism; Collagen Type III - genetics; Collagen Type III - metabolism; Electrolytes - chemistry; HUMAN STEM CELLS; Humans; Hydrogels - chemistry; LIGAMENT; Ligaments - anatomy & histology; Ligaments - pathology; Materials Testing; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; Methacrylates - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; SILK; Silk - chemistry; Silk - metabolism; Stress, Mechanical; TISSUE ENGINEERING; Tissue Engineering - instrumentation; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 0920-5063; 1568-5624
• DOI: 10.1163/156856208785540145

The aim of this study was to design a functional bio-engineered material to be used as scaffold for autologous mesenchymal stem cells in ligament tissue engineering. Polyelectrolyte modified HEMA hydrogel (HEMA-co-METAC), applied as coating on silk fibroin fibres, has been formulated in order to take advantage of the biocompatibility of the polyelectrolyte by increasing its mechanical properties with silk fibres. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells behaviour on such reinforced polyelectrolyte has been studied by evaluating cell morphology, cell number, attachment, spreading and proliferation together with collagen matrix production and its mRNA expression. Silk fibroin fibres matrices with HEMA-co-METAC coating exhibited acceptable mechanical behaviour compared to the natural ligament, good human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and with mRNA expression studies higher levels of collagen types I and III expression when compared to control cells on polystyrene. These data indicate high expression of mRNA for proteins responsible for the functional characteristics of the ligaments and suggest a potential for use of this biomaterial in ligament tissue-engineering applications.