A New Way to Engineer Cell Sheets for Articular Cartilage Regeneration
Source abstract
Abstract
Background: Articular cartilage has limited self-repair capacity. While thermoresponsive poly N-isopropyl acrylamide (pNIPAAm)-based Cell Sheet Engineering (CSE) is a promising scaffold-free strategy, its inherent material properties pose limitations. This study developed and validated a novel, non-thermoresponsive CSE platform for functional cartilage regeneration. Methods: A culture platform was fabricated by grafting the biocompatible polymer poly gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) and a disulfide-containing amino acid onto porous PET membranes. This design enables intact cell sheet detachment with its native extracellular matrix (ECM) via specific cleavage of the disulfide bonds by a mild reducing agent. Results: The hydrated substrate exhibited a biomimetic stiffness (~16.2 MPa) that closely mimics native cartilage. The platform showed superior biocompatibility and supported the cultivation of multi-layered rabbit chondrocyte sheets rich in Collagen II and Glycosaminoglycans. Critically, in a rabbit full-thickness defect model, transplanted autologous cell sheets successfully regenerated integrated, hyaline-like cartilage at 12 weeks, as confirmed by MRI, CT, and histological analyses. Conclusions: This novel CSE platform, featuring highly biomimetic stiffness and a gentle, chemically specific detachment mechanism, represents a highly promising clinical strategy for repairing articular cartilage defects.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms · Silk-based biomaterials and applications · Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Department of Orthopedics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
International Ph.D. Program for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Reproductive Medicine Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Funding
Point Robotics MedTech Inc. · National Science and Technology Council
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Show source-provided references
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