Biomimetic microbeads containing a chondroitin sulfate/chitosan polyelectrolyte complex for cell-based cartilage therapy.

ABSTRACT: Articular cartilage has a limited healing capacity that complicates the treatment of joint injuries and osteoarthritis. Newer repair strategies have focused on the use of cells and biomaterials to promote cartilage regeneration. In the present study, we developed and characterized bioinspired materials designed to mimic the composition of the cartilage extracellular matrix. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and chitosan (CH) were used to form physically cross-linked macromolecular polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) without the use of additional crosslinkers. A single-step water-in-oil emulsification process was used to either directly embed mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in PEC particles created with a various concentrations of CS and CH, or to co-embed MSC with PEC in agarose-based microbeads. Direct e

SUBMITTER: Daley EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4675144 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature