Bioinspired seeding of biomaterials using three dimensional microtissues induces chondrogenic stem cell differentiation and cartilage formation under growth factor free conditions.

ABSTRACT: Cell laden biomaterials are archetypically seeded with individual cells and steered into the desired behavior using exogenous stimuli to control growth and differentiation. In contrast, direct cell-cell contact is instructive and even essential for natural tissue formation. Namely, microaggregation and condensation of mesenchymal progenitor cells triggers chondrogenesis and thereby drives limb formation. Yet a biomimetic strategy translating this approach into a cell laden biomaterial-based therapy has remained largely unexplored. Here, we integrate the microenvironment of cellular condensation into biomaterials by encapsulating microaggregates of a hundred human periosteum-derived stem cells. This resulted in decreased stemness-related markers, up regulation of chondrogenic genes and impr

SUBMITTER: Leijten J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5093556 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature