An Animal-Free Patient-Derived Tissue-Mimetic Biochip Model of the Human Synovial Membrane for Human-Relevant Osteoarthritis Research.

ABSTRACT: Current synovial models fail to capture human-relevant OA traits. This study develops a fully humanized, animal-free synovial membrane model, mimicking OA synovial structure and molecular profile. Protocols for rheumatoid synovial micromasses are adapted for 3D biochip cultures of OA synoviocytes using TISSEEL fibrin and ELAREM lysate. Cell activity, mRNA expression, and structural changes are evaluated under varying hydrogel stiffness and cytokine exposure, with results compared to human OA and animal (equine and murine) synovial tissues. The animal-free biochip protocols replicate synovial architecture successfully. Improved gene expression of reticular collagen III (COL3A1) is achieved with 50 mg mL^-1 fibrinogen and 1% hPL. A 50 pg mL^-1 TNF-α and IL-1β stimulus ind

SUBMITTER: Reihs EI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12417762 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature