3D Dynamic Culture of Rabbit Articular Chondrocytes Encapsulated in Alginate Gel Beads Using Spinner Flasks for Cartilage Tissue Regeneration

الملخص EN

Cell-based therapy using chondrocytes for cartilage repair suffers from chondrocyte dedifferentiation.

In the present study, the effects of an integrated three-dimensional and dynamic culture on rabbit articular chondrocytes were investigated.

Cells (passages 1 and 4) were encapsulated in alginate gel beads and cultured in spinner flasks in chondrogenic and chondrocyte growth media.

Subcutaneous implantation of the cell-laden beads was performed to evaluate the ectopic chondrogenesis.

It was found that cells remained viable after 35 days in the three-dimensional dynamic culture.

Passage 1 cells demonstrated a proliferative growth in both media.

Passage 4 cells showed a gradual reduction in DNA content in growth medium, which was attenuated in chondrogenic medium.

Deposition of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was found in all cultures.

While passage 1 cells generally produced higher amounts of GAG than passage 4 cells, GAG/DNA became similar on day 35 for both cells in growth media.

Interestingly, GAG/DNA in growth medium was greater than that in chondrogenic medium for both cells.

Based on GAG quantification and gene expression analysis, encapsulated passage 1 cells cultured in growth medium displayed the best ectopic chondrogenesis.

Taken together, the three-dimensional and dynamic culture for chondrocytes holds great potential in cartilage regeneration.