ABSTRACT
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the major causes of low back pain. As current clinical treatments are aimed at restoring biomechanical function and providing symptomatic relief, the methods focused on biological repair have aroused interest and several tissue engineering approaches using different cell types have been proposed. Owing to the unsuitable nature of degenerate cells for tissue engineering, attention has been given to the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this connection, we have made a study on the characteristics of MSCs derived from adult bone marrow and on the feasibility of constructing IVD tissue-engineering cell under a Three-Dimensional Pellet Culture System. The human bone marrow MSCs were isolated and purified with density gradient solution and attachment-independent culture system. MSCs isolated using this method are a homogeneous population as indicated by morphology and other criteria. They have the capacity for self-renewal and proliferation, and the multilineage potential to differentiate.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Young Adult , Bone Marrow Cells , Cell Biology , Cell Culture Techniques , Methods , Cells, Cultured , Chondrogenesis , Physiology , Intervertebral Disc , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration , Therapeutics , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Tissue Engineering , MethodsABSTRACT
This article introduces a three-dimensional scaffold which is used to perform three-dimensional cell culture under mechanical stretch from the point of construction of tissue-engineered tissue. The composition, structure, surface characteristics, mechanical property, and cell compatibility of the scaffold have been studied by using surface chemistry and material mechanics testing methods. The results indicate that the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge, which is water-tolerant, coated with Poly-DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) possesses a good nature in appropriate surface feature, porosity, elastic recoil, and cell compatibility. These features provide wide options for using this scaffold to study the effects of mechanical stretch on cells maintained in three-dimensional culture to provide a three-dimensional matrix.
