Extruded Bioreactor Perfusion Culture Supports the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in 3D Porous Poly(ɛ‐Caprolactone) Scaffolds. Issue 2 (21st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silva, João C.; Moura, Carla S.; Borrecho, Gonçalo; de Matos, António P. Alves; da Silva, Cláudia L.; Cabral, Joaquim M. S.; Bártolo, Paulo J.; Linhardt, Robert J.; Ferreira, Frederico Castelo
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology journal. Volume 15:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-10-21
• Subjects: additive manufacturing -- cartilage tissue engineering -- extrusion‐based perfusion bioreactor -- mesenchymal stem/stromal cells -- poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) scaffolds; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1860-6768

Abstract

Abstract: Novel bioengineering strategies for the ex vivo fabrication of native‐like tissue‐engineered cartilage are crucial for the translation of these approaches to clinically manage highly prevalent and debilitating joint diseases. Bioreactors that provide different biophysical stimuli have been used in tissue engineering approaches aimed at enhancing the quality of the cartilage tissue generated. However, such systems are often highly complex, expensive, and not very versatile. In the current study, a novel, cost‐effective, and customizable perfusion bioreactor totally fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM) is proposed for the study of the effect of fluid flow on the chondrogenic differentiation of human bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hBMSCs) in 3D porous poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds. hBMSCs are first seeded and grown on PCL scaffolds and hBMSC–PCL constructs are then transferred to 3D‐extruded bioreactors for continuous perfusion culture under chondrogenic inductive conditions. Perfused constructs show similar cell metabolic activity and significantly higher sulfated glycosaminoglycan production (≈1.8‐fold) in comparison to their non‐perfused counterparts. Importantly, perfusion bioreactor culture significantly promoted the expression of chondrogenic marker genes while downregulating hypertrophy. This work highlights the potential of customizable AM platforms for the development of novel personalized repair strategies and more reliable in vitro models with a wide range of applications. Abstract : This work describes the development of a cost‐effective and customizable perfusion bioreactor totally fabricated by extrusion, which is able to enhance significantly the chondrogenic differentiation of human bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in 3D porous poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) scaffolds. The results highlight the potential of extrusion‐based bioreactor platforms for the development of novel personalized cartilage repair strategies and more reliable in vitro models.