Covalently tethered TGF-β1 with encapsulated chondrocytes in a PEG hydrogel system enhances extracellular matrix production.

ABSTRACT: Healing articular cartilage defects remains a significant clinical challenge because of its limited capacity for self-repair. While delivery of autologous chondrocytes to cartilage defects has received growing interest, combining cell-based therapies with growth factor delivery that can locally signal cells and promote their function is often advantageous. We have previously shown that PEG thiol-ene hydrogels permit covalent attachment of growth factors. However, it is not well known if embedded chondrocytes respond to tethered signals over a long period. Here, chondrocytes were encapsulated in PEG hydrogels functionalized with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) with the goal of increasing proliferation and matrix production. Tethered TGF-β1 was found to be distributed homogenously

SUBMITTER: Sridhar BV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4145048 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature