Aligned hybrid silk scaffold for enhanced differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into ligament fibroblasts

The concept of contact guidance utilizes the phenomenon of anchorage dependence of cells on the topography of seeded surfaces. It has been shown in previous studies that cells were guided to align along the topographical alignment of the seeding substrate and produced enhanced amounts of oriented extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we aimed to apply this concept to a three-dimensional full silk fibroin (SF) hybrid scaffold system, which comprised of knitted SF and aligned SF electrospun fibers (SFEFs), for ligament tissue engineering applications. Specifically, knitted SF, which contributed to the mechanical robustness of the system, was integrated with highly aligned SFEF mesh, which acted as the initial ECM to provide environmental cues for positive cellular response. Mesenchymal stem cells seeded on the aligned hybrid scaffolds were shown to be proliferative and aligned along the integrated aligned SFEF, forming oriented spindle-shaped morphology and produced an aligned ECM network. Expression and production of ligament-related proteins were also increased as compared to hybrid SF scaffolds with randomly arranged SFEFs, indicating differentiative cues for ligament fibroblasts present in the aligned hybrid SF scaffolds. Consequently, the tensile properties of cultured aligned constructs were significantly improved and superior to the counterpart with randomly arranged SFEF. These results thus show that the aligned hybrid scaffold system is promising for enhancing cell proliferation, differentiation, and function for ligament tissue engineering applications.     

三维环境下软骨细胞诱导滑膜间充质干细胞向软骨样细胞的分化

BACKGROUND: The co-culture of chondrocytes and synovial mesenchymal stem cells can induce the cartilage differentiation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells in vitro, but the cell differentiation induced by co-culture in vivo is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chondrogenic differentiation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells co-cultured with chondrocytes on the chitosan/type I collagen composite scaffolds after being transplanted into the subcutaneous layer of Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: The synovial mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes harvested from the synovial membrane and articular cartilage of Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained by enzyme digestion method and cultured respectively. Passage 3 synovial mesenchymal stem cells and passage 2 chondrocytes, which were divided into four groups: group A (chondrocytes alone), group B (synovial mesenchymal stem cells alone), group C (ratio of synovial mesenchymal stem cells:chondrocytes=1:2) and group D (scaffold material without cells), were cultured on chitosan/type I collagen composite scaffolds and transplanted into the subcutaneous layer of rats followed by morphological observation and immunohistochemical staining at 4 and 8 weeks.   . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 4 and 8 weeks, the discoid-like scaffold was visible. The immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen and the toluidine blue staining of aggrecan were significantly positive in groups A and C. These results show that the co-culture of synovial mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes on the scaffold in vivo can form cartilage-like tissues.      

丝素蛋白与胎盘间充质干细胞生物相容性的实验研究

目的 探讨丝素蛋白（SF）材料与胎盘间充质干细胞（PMSCs）的生物相容性.方法 运用SF溶液包被的培养瓶培养PMSCs,流式细胞术分析其表型并对其定向分化潜能进行探讨;PMSCs置于SF膜材料培养后通过扫描电镜观察细胞形态变化.结果 用SF溶液包被的培养瓶培养的PMSCs,其生长特性、表面标志、多向分化潜能无明显变化;PMSCs在SF膜材料上生长良好,培养8 d时材料上细胞伸展增殖,分泌大量颗粒状、网状基质物质,材料间隙被基质填满.结论 SF材料不影响PMSCs的生长特性、表面标志和多向分化潜能,具有良好的生物相容性.     

Preparation and characterisation of vancomycin-impregnated gelatin microspheres/silk fibroin scaffold

A type of antibacterial silk fibroin (SF) scaffold was developed and characterised as a potential functional wound dressing for acute trauma treatment. To achieve this, SF solution was mixed with previously fabricated vancomycin (Vm)-loaded gelatin (G) microspheres, followed by a freeze-drying step. Some physical and antimicrobial properties of the prepared Vm/G/SF scaffolds were investigated and the results demonstrated that the average pore size and porosity of the composite scaffold were 60–80?μm and 75%, respectively. The compressive stress and compressive modulus of Vm/G/SF scaffold were 140 and 468?KPa, respectively. Compared with Vm/G microspheres and Vm/SF scaffold, the Vm/G/SF scaffold has slower release rate of Vm. In addition, the Vm release rate of Vm/G/SF scaffold matched well with the degradation rate of SF scaffold. With respect to the antimicrobial effect, the results showed that the Vm/G/SF scaffold had good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive), which is a gram-positive bacteria commonly found in infected wounds.     

滑膜间充质干细胞与软骨细胞三维条件下混合培养向软骨细胞的分化

背景：软骨细胞通过自分泌及旁分泌的作用可以为滑膜间充质干细胞向软骨细胞分化提供所需的生长因子及微环境,三维条件下更有利于细胞的黏附增殖与分化。目的：观察滑膜间充质干细胞与软骨细胞混合培养于壳聚糖/Ⅰ型胶原复合支架材料中向成软骨细胞分化的能力。方法：取SD大鼠滑膜组织及软骨组织,用酶消化法获得滑膜间充质干细胞及软骨细胞分别进行培养。取第3代滑膜间充质干细胞及第2代软骨细胞,将二者以1∶2的比例混合培养负载于壳聚糖/Ⅰ型胶原复合支架材料21 d,进行激光共聚焦扫描及免疫组织化学检测。结果与结论：培养72 h后,扫描电镜观察细胞黏附于支架材料表面,并可见细胞分泌大量基质成分。培养     21 d后,激光共聚焦扫描可见细胞在支架表面分布均匀,逐层扫描后细胞逐渐减少。免疫组织化学检测可见基质能被Ⅱ型胶原染色,细胞染色呈现棕黄色。结果表明壳聚糖/Ⅰ型胶原复合支架材料提供三维生长空间,利用软骨细胞分泌生长因子及细胞间的相互作用可以诱导滑膜间充质干细胞向软骨细胞分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the collagen/silk fibroin bi-template-induced biomimetic bone substitutes

Biomimetic bone substitutes of collagen-silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite (COL-SF/HA) were synthesized via a bi-template-induced coassembly strategy. Collagen-hydroxyapatite (COL-HA) and silk fibroin-hydroxyapatite (SF-HA) served as controls were prepared with similar method. The osteogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) seeded onto the resulting materials was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The results suggested that the bi-template-induced biomimetic substitutes were able to support the growth and proliferation of BMSCs. We further demonstrated that BMSCs were stimulated to differentiate into the osteoblast cell lineage by evaluating several specific osteogenic markers including staining of alkaline phosphate (ALP) and calcium nodular and expression of osteogenic genes of osteocalcin (OCN) and osteonectin (ONN). The rat femoral defect model was used to assess the aforementioned biomimetic bone substitutes combined with BMSCs in vivo. Histological analysis indicated that the bi-template material exhibited good biocompatibility and strong ability of the new bone formation in comparison with the control of single-template material in vivo. ? 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A:2929-2938, 2012.     

基因转染脐带间充质干细胞与丝素蛋白构建组织工程脂肪

背景：目前国内外构建组织工程脂肪的方法并不完善,虽然构建出了脂肪,但效果不理想。 目的：探讨一种新的构建组织工程脂肪的方法,观察携带重组人胰岛素基因慢病毒载体转染的人脐带间充质干细胞与丝素蛋白复合后在Wistar大鼠体内构建组织工程脂肪的能力。 方法：分离培养人脐带间充质干细胞,将携带重组人胰岛素基因慢病毒载体以最适MOI=10转染人脐带间充质干细胞,将转染组与未转染组(对照组)的人脐带间充质干细胞分别接种于丝素蛋白支架,移植于Wistar大鼠背部皮下。移植后12周取材,行荧光原位杂交技术鉴定、组织形态学和扫描电镜观察。 结果与结论：①油红O染色显示,两组移植物均呈阳性,证明移植物已在体内合成为脂肪组织,转染组脂肪样细胞数量明显高于对照组(P < 0.01)。②苏木精-伊红染色显示,两组移植物组织结构与正常脂肪组织相似,可见明显新生血管。转染组支架材料降解明显,炎性细胞浸润明显少于对照组,新生血管数量也多于对照组。③扫描电镜观察提示,转染组移植物内脂肪样细胞聚集成团,其结构与正常脂肪组织相似;对照组脂肪样细胞散在分布于支架孔隙内。④提示胰岛素基因能明显促进人脐带间充质干细胞成脂肪化,携带重组人胰岛素基因慢病毒载体转染的人脐带间充质干细胞与丝素蛋白支架复合后,在Wistar大鼠体内能构建出组织工程化脂肪组织,其结构类似正常脂肪组织。     

Anterior cruciate ligament regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells and silk scaffold in large animal model

Although in vivo studies in small animal model show the ligament regeneration by implanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and silk scaffold, large animal studies are still needed to evaluate the silk scaffold before starting a clinical trial. The aim of this study is to regenerate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in pig model. The micro-porous silk mesh was fabricated by incorporating silk sponges into knitted silk mesh with lyophilization. Then the scaffold was prepared by rolling the micro-porous silk mesh around a braided silk cord to produce a tightly wound shaft. In vitro study indicated that MSCs proliferated profusely on scaffold and differentiated into fibroblast-like cells by expressing collagen I, collagen III and tenascin-C genes in mRNA level. Then the MSCs-seeded scaffold was implanted in pig model to regenerate ACL. At 24 weeks postoperatively, the MSCs in regenerated ligament exhibited fibroblast morphology. The key ligament-specific extracellular matrix components were produced prominently and indirect ligament–bone insertion with three zones (bone, Sharpey's fibers and ligament) was observed. Although there was remarkable scaffold degradation, the maximum tensile load of regenerated ligament could be maintained after 24 weeks of implantation. In conclusion, the results imply that silk-based material has great potentials for clinical applications.     

丝素蛋白/壳聚糖三维支架与骨髓间充质干细胞的体外培养

背景：前期实验发现丝素蛋白、壳聚糖以适当的比例混合,可以互相弥补各自的不足,表现出良好的理化性质和生物学特性。 目的：观察骨髓间充质干细胞在丝素蛋白/壳聚糖混合三维支架材料上的生长情况。 方法：将诱导后的兔骨髓间充质干细胞接种在丝素蛋白/壳聚糖支架材料上,检测细胞黏附率,倒置显微镜及扫描电镜观察细胞生长情况。 结果与结论：细胞黏附率随时间的延长而增加。倒置显微镜观察显示,丝素蛋白/壳聚糖支架上的细胞看不清,随着时间的延长,支架周围细胞增多,且有细胞伸入支架内;扫面电镜观察显示,细胞生长活跃、增殖分裂正常,细胞周围见颗粒状、丝状基质物质,细胞的微丝与支架材料黏附紧密;细胞不仅可以在材料表面贴附生长,并伸入材料之中。说明丝素蛋白/壳聚糖混合支架材料具有良好的细胞生物相容性。     

A hybrid silk/RADA-based fibrous scaffold with triple hierarchy for ligament regeneration

While silk-based microfibrous scaffolds possess excellent mechanical properties and have been used for ligament tissue-engineering applications, the microenvironment in these scaffolds is not biomimetic. We hypothesized that coating a hybrid silk scaffold with an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like network of self-assembling peptide nanofibers would provide a biomimetic three-dimensional nanofibrous microenvironment and enhance ligament tissue regeneration after bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-seeding. A novel scaffold possessing a triple structural hierarchy comprising macrofibrous knitted silk fibers, a silk microsponge, and a peptide nanofiber mesh was developed by coating self-assembled RADA16 peptide nanofibers on a silk microfiber-reinforced-sponge scaffold. Compared with the uncoated control, RADA-coated scaffolds showed enhanced BMSC proliferation, metabolism, and fibroblastic differentiation during the 3 weeks of culture. BMSC-seeded RADA-coated scaffolds showed an increasing temporal expression of key fibroblastic ECM proteins (collagen type I and III, tenascin-C), with a significantly higher tenascin-C expression compared with the controls. BMSC-seeded RADA-coated scaffolds also showed a temporal increase in total collagen and glycosaminoglycan production (the amount produced being higher than in control scaffolds) during 3 weeks of culture, and possessed 7% higher maximum tensile load compared with the BMSC-seeded control scaffolds. The results indicate that the BMSC-seeded RADA-coated hybrid silk scaffold system has the potential for use in ligament tissue-engineering applications.     

丝素蛋白/聚己内酯纳米纤维支架生物相容性评价

目的:改善再生丝素蛋白的降解性及力学性能,评价丝素蛋白/聚己内酯纳米纤维支架神经生物材料的生物相容性。方法:采用静电纺丝技术制备丝素蛋白/聚己内酯纳米纤维支架。体外培养雪旺细胞并与支架及其浸提液共培养,通过荧光染色,细胞毒性试验(MTT法)检测其细胞生物相容性。将纤维支架材料在体外置于蛋白酶ⅪV溶液评价其体外降解行为;通过皮下埋植实验观察纤维材料在体内的局部组织反应。结果:丝素蛋白/聚己内酯支架材料,呈现三维网状结构。雪旺细胞具有良好的生长形态;无细胞毒性。随着丝素蛋白比例的降低,能够显著增加混合支架的降解速度。皮下移植实验未引起明显免疫排斥反应,炎症反应轻。结论:丝素蛋白/聚己内酯支架具有良好的生物相容性和生物可降解性,有望用于神经组织工程支架材料修复神经缺损。     

骨髓间充质干细胞和丝素蛋白/壳聚糖支架构建组织工程尿液流出道的研究

目的 探讨骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)和丝素蛋白/壳聚糖支架构建组织工程管状移植物在兔体内进行尿流改道的可行性和有效性.方法 本研究共选取雄性SPF级新西兰大白兔36只.(1)取新西兰大白兔6只,行耳缘静脉麻醉后,提取BMSC和并进行体外培养,选取第3代BMSC,进行爬片,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面标志物;(2)另取6只新...     

兔髓核细胞诱导大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞分化为髓核细胞的研究

目的 研究体外新西兰大白兔髓核细胞(nucleus pulposus cells)与SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(mes-enchymal stem cells,MSCs)共培养时,兔髓核细胞与大鼠MSCs直接和间接接触对MSCs分化为髓核细胞的影响.方法 DAPI (4‘,6-二咪基-2‘-苯吲哚盐酸)标记原代髓核细胞后,分别与第三代MSCs按接触组和非接触组(Transwell培养系统)共培养.每隔24小时应用免疫荧光观察MSCs的形态学变化,并用RT-PCR方法检测Ⅱ型胶原和可凝集蛋白多糖(Aggrecan)的表达.结果 直接接触培养组中可见分化的MSCs形态和功能接近髓核细胞;非直接接触组的MSCs未见变化.结论 髓核细胞与MSCs的直接接触,是诱导MSCs分化为髓核细胞的重要因素.     

丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石支架对成骨诱导脂肪干细胞活性及成骨性能的影响

背景：成骨诱导后的脂肪干细胞与可降解丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石支架复合,可望研制出一种具有良好生物相容性及成骨性能的新型骨融合材料。 目的：探讨丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石支架对成骨诱导脂肪干细胞增殖活性及成骨性能的影响。 方法：获取大鼠脂肪干细胞后体外贴壁培养、扩增,将第3代细胞用条件培养液进行成骨方向的定向诱导培养、扩增,然后接种到预湿的丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石材料上作为实验组,以相同条件下置入盖玻片和脂肪干细胞培养作为对照组。倒置相差显微镜观察细胞在材料中的生长情况,MTT法检测材料对细胞增殖活性的影响,碱性磷酸酶活性测定评价其成骨能力。 结果与结论：成骨诱导后的脂肪干细胞在丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石材料上能够良好地黏附和增殖。实验组和对照组细胞增殖活性及碱性磷酸酶活性比较,差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05),证实脂肪干细胞活性及成骨性能不受材料影响,说明丝素蛋白/羟基磷灰石复合材料具有良好的细胞相容性。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

Cartilage regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells and a PLGA-gelatin/chondroitin/hyaluronate hybrid scaffold

The study was to produce a novel hybrid poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-gelatin/chondroitin/hyaluronate (PLGA-GCH) scaffold and evaluate its potentials in cartilage repair. The porous PLGA-GCH scaffold was developed to mimic the natural extra cellular matrix of cartilage. The differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on PLGA-GCH or PLGA scaffold were incubated in vitro and showed that, compared to PLGA scaffold, the PLGA-GCH scaffold significantly augmented the proliferation of MSCs and GAG synthesis. Then autologous differentiated MSCs/PLGA-GCH was implanted to repair full-thickness cartilage defect in rabbit, while MSCs/PLGA for the contra lateral cartilage defect (n=30). Fifteen additional rabbits without treatment for defects were used as control. Histology observation showed the MSCs/PLGA-GCH repair group had better chondrocyte morphology, integration, continuous subchondral bone, and much thicker newly formed cartilage compared with MSCs/PLGA repair group 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively. There was a significant difference in histological grading score between these two groups, which both showed much better repair than control. The present study implied that the hybrid PLGA-GCH scaffold might serve as a new way to keep the differentiation of MSCs for enhancing cartilage repair.