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Graded-Three-Dimensional Cell-Encapsulating Hydrogel as a Potential Biologic Scaffold for Disc Tissue Engineering

  • Original Article
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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background:

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, which can cause lower back pain, is a major predisposing factor for disability and can be managed through multiple approaches. However, there is no satisfactory strategy currently available to reconstruct and recover the natural properties of IVDs after degeneration. As tissue engineering develops, scaffolds with embedded cell cultures have proved critical for the successful regeneration of IVDs.

Methods:

In this study, an integrated scaffold for IVD replacement was developed. Through scanning electron microscopy and other mechanical measurements, we characterized the physical properties of different hydrogels. In addition, we simulated the physiological structure of natural IVDs. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and annulus fibrosus-derived stem cells (AFSCs) were seeded in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel at different concentrations to evaluate cell viability and matrix expression.

Results:

It was found that different concentrations of GelMA hydrogel can provide a suitable environment for cell survival. However, hydrogels with different mechanical properties influence cell adhesion and extracellular matrix component type I collagen, type II collagen, and aggrecan expression.

Conclusion:

This tissue-engineered IVD implant had a similar structure and function as the native IVD, with the inner area mimicking the NP tissue and the outer area mimicking the stratified annulus fibrosus tissue. The new integrated scaffold demonstrated a good simulation of disc structure. The preparation of efficient and regeneration-promoting tissue-engineered scaffolds is an important issue that needs to be explored in the future. It is hoped that this work will provide new ideas and methods for the further construction of functional tissue replacement discs.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (2008085QH362), 512 Talents Development Project of Bengbu Medical College (by51202302), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Bengbu Medical College (BYKY1884, BYKY2019039ZD, 2020byzd070 and 2021bypd006).

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Author notes

  1. Zhixiang Li, Yiwen Zhang and Yupeng Zhao have been contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China

    Zhixiang Li, Yiwen Zhang, Yupeng Zhao, Xubin Gao, Zhonglian Zhu, Yingji Mao & Taibao Qian

  2. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China

    Zhixiang Li, Yingji Mao & Taibao Qian

  3. Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Plastic Surgery Institute of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515063, Guangdong, China

    Yiwen Zhang

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  1. Zhixiang Li
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  3. Yupeng Zhao
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  5. Zhonglian Zhu
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Contributions

YM (Doctor of Philosophy), TQ (Doctor of Medicine), and ZL (Master of Medicine) were involved in study design, literature research, data analysis, and writing the manuscript. YZ (Master of Medicine), YZ (Master of Medicine), ZL (Master of Medicine), ZZ (Master of Medicine) and XG (Master of Medicine) were involved in the study design and data analysis.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yingji Mao or Taibao Qian.

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The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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This study was approved by the ethics committee of the medical faculty of Bengbu Medical College (Approval Number No. 2019100).

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Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Zhao, Y. et al. Graded-Three-Dimensional Cell-Encapsulating Hydrogel as a Potential Biologic Scaffold for Disc Tissue Engineering. Tissue Eng Regen Med 19, 1001–1012 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00480-2

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