Harnessing the Versatility of Bacterial Collagen to Improve the Chondrogenic Potential of Porous Collagen Scaffolds. Issue 13 (24th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parmar, Paresh A.; St‐Pierre, Jean‐Philippe; Chow, Lesley W.; Puetzer, Jennifer L.; Stoichevska, Violet; Peng, Yong Y.; Werkmeister, Jerome A.; Ramshaw, John A. M.; Stevens, Molly M.
• Is Part Of: Advanced healthcare materials. Volume 5:Issue 13(2016)
• Page Start: 1656
• Page End: 1666
• Publication Date: 2016-05-24
• Subjects: bioactivity -- biomimetic materials -- cartilage tissue engineering -- collagen foams -- mesenchymal stem cells; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201600136
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-2640

Abstract

Abstract : Collagen I foams are used in the clinic as scaffolds to promote articular cartilage repair as they provide a bioactive environment for cells with chondrogenic potential. However, collagen I as a base material does not allow for precise control over bioactivity. Alternatively, recombinant bacterial collagens can be used as "blank slate" collagen molecules to offer a versatile platform for incorporation of selected bioactive sequences and fabrication into 3D scaffolds. Here, we show the potential of Streptococcal collagen‐like 2 (Scl2) protein foams modified with peptides designed to specifically and noncovalently bind hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate to improve chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) compared to collagen I foams. Specific compositions of functionalized Scl2 foams lead to improved chondrogenesis compared to both nonfunctionalized Scl2 and collagen I foams, as indicated by gene expression, extracellular matrix accumulation, and compression moduli. hMSCs cultured in functionalized Scl2 foams exhibit decreased collagens I and X gene and protein expression, suggesting an advantage over collagen I foams in promoting a chondrocytic phenotype. These highly modular foams can be further modified to improve specific aspects chondrogenesis. As such, these scaffolds also have the potential to be tailored for other regenerative medicine applications. Abstract : Recombinant bacterial collagens are modified with selected bioactive peptide sequences designed to specifically, dynamically, and noncovalently bind glycosaminoglycans abundantly found in native articular cartilage. The proteins are fabricated into porous foam scaffolds and seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells. Specific functionalized scaffolds lead to extensive chondrogenesis and enhancement of the articular chondrocyte phenotype compared to collagen type I foams.