Temperature-cured dissolvable gelatin microsphere-based cell carriers (tDGMCs) to fabricate islets of chondrocytes for injectable transplantation.

• Main Author: Rozario, Michelle Ann.
• Other Authors: Wang Dongan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52257
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), which culturing the patient’s own chondrocytes and then injecting it into the affected area, is one of the most promising therapies for dealing with osteoarthritis. However, some of the problems faced include dedifferention of chondrocytes when culturing in monolayer, and uneven distribution. In this study, a novel therapeutic cell delivery methodology was used to culture chondrocytes into dense islets. The chondrocytes were encapsulated in gelatin microspheres, which were then further encapsulated in an alginate-based hydrogel constructs. The gelatin microspheres dissolved within 2 day, leaving a cavity for the chondrocytes to proliferate in. The process involved a single water-in-oil emulsion process, without the use of any chemicals or high temperature. Analysis done using Live/Dead staining, WST-1 assay and immunohistochemistry and histology stains showed that dense and viable islets of chondrocytes had formed by day 35, and they had retained their phenotype. The constructs were then treated with sodium citrate to dissolved the alginate scaffold and obtain injectable islets of chondrocytes.