%0 Journal Article
%T Biological Evaluation of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Using Thermoresponsive Poly(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide)-Grafted Hyaluronan
%A Kazuaki Muramatsu
%A Mika Ide
%A Fujio Miyawaki
%J Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology
%P 1-9
%@ 2158-7043
%D 2012
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jbnb.2012.31001
%X In order to contribute to the development of minimally invasive surgery techniques for autologous chondrocyte implantation, a novel self-assembling biomaterial consisting of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted hyaluronan (PNIPAAm-g-HA) has been synthesized as an injectable scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and cytocompatibility of PNIPAAm-g-HA to normal chondrocytes by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and histochemical staining in preliminary in vitro and in vitro experiments. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed homogeneous distribution of cells in the PNIPAAm-g-HA hydrogel in 3-dimensional in vitro cultivation. Alcian blue staining also indicated that abundant extracellular matrix formation, including acidic glycosaminoglycans, occurred in tissue-engineered cartilage over time in vitro. Cartilage-related gene expression patterns, which were tested in rabbit normal chondrocytes embedded in the hydrogel, were almost maintained for 4 weeks. Transforming growth factor-¦Â1 (TGF-¦Â1) stimulation enhanced the expression of SRY-related HMG box-containing gene 9 (Sox9) and type X collagen genes suggesting promotion of chondrogenic differentiation. Histochemical evaluation showed neocartilage formation following subcutaneous implantation of the chondrocyte-gel mixture in nude mice. Furthermore, TGF-¦Â1 stimulation promoted production and maturation of the extracellular matrix of the in situ tissue engineered hyaline cartilage. These data suggested that PNIPAAm-g-HA could be a promising biomaterial, i.e., a self-assembling and injectable scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.
%K Cartilage Tissue Engineering
%K Hyaluronan
%K Self-Assembly
%K Thermally Responsive Material
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=16694