Generating an osteochondral construct utilising the living scaffold.

• Main Author: Tee, Joanna Chian Ai.
• Other Authors: Wang Dongan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Medicine::Tissue engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45428
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Injuries to the articular cartilage poses a unique challenge due to the avascular and innervated nature of the tissue. Current strategies in cell delivery methods, rely heavily on hydrogels as scaffolds. Hydrogels can be categorised as natural fibers such as collagen which comes from protein and alginate which is a form of polysaccharide, besides synthetic polymers like poly ethylene gylcol (PEG). Recently, a novel cell delivery method was developed that used chondrocytes extracted from porcine articular cartilage to form a scaffold that is composed purely of living chondrocytes and their secreted ECM, which is known as the Living Scaffold. In this experiment, we aim to test the Living Scaffold for its ability to support other cell types, namely hMSC, in terms of growth, proliferation and differentiation by generating an osteochondral construct. According to data from Real Time PCR and immunostaining, successful differentiation of the hMSC was achieved. The potential of the Living Scaffold as a cell delivery platform requires further exploration.