• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.9
• /
• pp.703-708
• /
• 2009

Silk fibroin scaffolds were examined as a biomaterial option for tissue-engineered cartilage-like tissue. In tissue engineering for cartilage repair using a scaffold, initial chondrocyte-material interactions are important for the following cell behaviors. In this study, the surface of nanofibrous silk fibroin (NSF) meshes was modified by a microwave-induced argon plasma treatment in order to improve the cytocompatibility of the meshes used as cartilaginous grafts. In addition, the effects of a plasma treatment on the cellular behavior of chondrocytes on NSF were examined. The plasma treatment resulted in an increase in the hydrophilicity of NSF meshes suggesting that the cytocompatibility of the mesh might be improved. Furthermore, the human articular chondrocytes showed higher viability on the surface-modified NSF meshes. These results suggest that the surface modification of NSF meshes by plasma can enhance the cellular behavior of chondrocytes and may be used in tissue engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2008

One of the unresolved questions in articular cartilage biomechanics is the magnitude of the dynamic modulus and tissue compressive strains under physiological loading conditions. The objective of this study was to characterize the dynamic modulus and compressive strain magnitudes of bovine articular cartilage at physiological compressive stress level and loading frequency. Four bovine calf shoulder joints (ages 2-4 months) were loaded in Instron testing system under load control, with a load amplitude up to 800 N and loading frequency of 1 Hz, resulting in peak engineering stress amplitude of ${\sim}5.8\;MPa$. The corresponding peak deformation of the articular layer reached ${\sim}27%$ of its thickness. The effective dynamic modulus determined from the slope of stress versus strain curve was ${\sim}23\;MPa$, and the phase angle difference between the applied stress and measured strain which is equivalent to the area of the hystresis loop in the stress-strain response was ${\sim}8.3^{\circ}$. These results are representative of the functional properties of articular cartilage in a physiological loading environment. This study provides novel experimental findings on the physiological strain magnitudes and dynamic modulus achieved in intact articular layers under cyclical loading conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.154-157
• /
• 2002

A cyto-indentation technique was used to obtain the biomechanical compressive compliance property of an chondrocyte cell attached to glass surface, which was tried to generate joint cartilage by tissue engineering. Piezo-transducer system and dual photo-diode system were used to conduct mechanical indentation through displacement-controlled testing and the measurement of corresponding cell reaction force. The Poisson's ratio of 0.37 was quoted from other report. The compressive compliance of chondrocyte, that was determined by elastic contact theory, was 1.38${\pm}$0.057 kPa. This value is 30% higher than that of MG63 osteoblast-like cell. The cyto-indentation technique employed in this study is so precise that it can quantify the biomechanical property of single cell.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.155.1-155.1
• /
• 2005

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.54 no.7
• /
• pp.356-367
• /
• 2021

Cell-based therapy is a promising approach in the field of regenerative medicine. As cells are formed into spheroids, their survival, functions, and engraftment in the transplanted site are significantly improved compared to single cell transplantation. To improve the therapeutic effect of cell spheroids even further, various biomaterials (e.g., nano- or microparticles, fibers, and hydrogels) have been developed for spheroid engineering. These biomaterials not only can control the overall spheroid formation (e.g., size, shape, aggregation speed, and degree of compaction), but also can regulate cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions in spheroids. Therefore, cell spheroids in synergy with biomaterials have recently emerged for cell-based regenerative therapy. Biomaterials-assisted spheroid engineering has been extensively studied for regeneration of bone or/and cartilage defects, critical limb ischemia, and myocardial infarction. Furthermore, it has been expanded to pancreas islets and hair follicle transplantation. This paper comprehensively reviews biomaterials-assisted spheroid engineering for regenerative therapy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.173-174
• /
• 2006

Understanding chondrocyte behavior inside complex, three-dimensional environments with controlled patterning of geometrical factors would provide significant insights into the basic biology of tissue regenerations. One of the fundamental limitations in studying such behavior has been the inability to fabricate controlled 3D structures. To overcome this problem, we have developed a three-dimensional microfabrication system. This system allows fabrication of predesigned internal architectures and pore size by stacking up the photopolymerized materials. Photopolymer SL5180 was used as the material for 3D scaffolds. The results demonstrate that controllable and reproducible inner-architecture can be fabricated. Chondrocytes harvested from human nasal septum were cultured in two kinds of 3D scaffolds to observe cell adhesion behavior. Such 3D scaffolds might provide effective key factors to study cell behavior in complex environments and could eventually lead to optimum design of scaffolds in various tissue regenerations such as cartilage, bone, etc. in a near future.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2007.05a
• /
• pp.1265-1270
• /
• 2007

Conventional methods for fabricating three-dimensional (3-D) scaffolds have substantial limitations. In this paper, we present 3-D scaffolds that can be made repeatedly with the same dimensions using a microstereolithography system. This system allows the fabrication of a pre-designed internal structure, such as pore size and porosity, by stacking photopolymerized materials. The scaffolds must be manufactured in a material that is biocompatible and biodegradable. In this regard, we synthesized liquid photocurable biodegradable TMC/TMP, followed by acrylation at terminal ends. And also, solidification properties of TMC/TMP polymer are to be obtained through experiments. Cell adhesion to scaffolds significantly affects tissue regeneration. As a typical example, we seeded chondrocytes on two types of 3-D scaffold and compared the adhesion results. Based on these results, the scaffold geometry is one of the most important factors in chondrocyte adhesion. These 3-D scaffolds could be key factors for studying cell behavior in complex environments and eventually lead to the optimum design of scaffolds for the regeneration of various tissues, such as cartilage and bone.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.518-523
• /
• 2004

PLGA was suggested. Under various conditions, their diameters and porosity as well as mechanical strength were evaluated. In addition to those, cell(chondrocyte) proliferation and formation of extracelluar matrices were also investigated along with the conventional membrane type PLGA scaffolds for the potential use in tissue engineering. As conclusions, this type of scaffold showed a potential of application to tissue engineering in view of mechanical stability as well as cellular responses.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.237.3-238
• /
• 2003

Tissue engineering may be adequately defined as the science of persuading the body to regenerate or repair tissue that fail to regenerate or heal spontaneously. In the various techniques of cartilage tissue engineering, the use of 3-dimensional polymeric scaffolds implanted at a tissue defect site is usually involved. These scaffolds provided a framework for cells to attach, proliferate, and form extracellular matrix(ECM). The scaffolds may also serve as carriers for cells and/or growth factors. In the ideal case, scaffold absorb at a predefined rate so that the 3-dimensional space occupied by the initial scaffold is replaced by regenerated host tissue. (omitted)

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.781-791
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND: Glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN HCl) has been shown to inhibit cell growth and matrix synthesis, but not with N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) supplementation. This effect might be related to an inhibition of critical growth factors (GF), or to a different metabolization of the two glucosamine derivatives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the synergy between GlcN HCl, GlcNAc, and GF on proliferation and cartilage matrix synthesis. METHOD: Bovine chondrocytes were cultivated in monolayers for 48 h and in three-dimensional (3D) chitosan scaffolds for 30 days in perfusion bioreactors. Serum-free (SF) medium was supplemented with either growth factors (GF) $TGF-{\beta}$ ($5ng\;mL^{-1}$) and IGF-I ($10ng\;mL^{-1}$), GlcN HCl or GlcNAc at 1mM each or both. Six groups were compared according to medium supplementation: (a) SF control; (b) SF + GlcN HCl; (c) SF + GlcNAc; (d) SF + GF; (e) SF + GF + GlcN HCl; and (f) SF + GF + GlcNAc. Cell proliferation, proteoglycan, collagen I (COL1), and collagen II (COL2) synthesis were evaluated. RESULTS: The two glucosamines showed opposite effects in monolayer culture: GlcN HCl significantly reduced proliferation and GlcNAc significantly augmented cellular metabolism. In the 30 days 3D culture, the GlcN HCl added to GF stimulated cell proliferation more than when compared to GF only, but the proteoglycan synthesis was smaller than GF. However, GlcNAc added to GF improved the cell proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis more than when compared to GF and GF/GlcN HCl. The synthesis of COL1 and COL2 was observed in all groups containing GF. CONCLUSION: GlcN HCl and GlcNAc increased cell growth and stimulated COL2 synthesis in long-time 3D culture. However, only GlcNAc added to GF improved proteoglycan synthesis.