Abstract
This study examined the efficacy of poly(NiPAAm-co-AAc) as an injectable drug delivery vehicle and a cell therapeutic agent in the form of a supporting matrix for the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit chondrocytes. The hydrogel constructs, which consisted of embedded cells co-encapsulating dexamethasone (Dex) and TGF beta-1 or unloaded Dex, were used as controls to determine the effects of Dex and TGF beta-1 on chondrogenic differentiation. The level of Dex and TGF beta-1 released was monitored using a bioimaging method. The amount of Dex released from hydrogel was faster than that of TGF beta-1. TGF beta-1 was present in hydrogel for more than 4 weeks after the injection. The level of the cartilage associated ECM proteins was examined by immunohistochemical staining for collagen type II as well as by Safranin-O and Alcian blue (GAG) staining. These results highlight the potential of a thermo-reversible hydrogel mixed with the chondrocytes and differentiation delivery material for applications in neocartilage formation.
MeSH terms
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Acrylic Resins / chemistry
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Acrylic Resins / metabolism
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Animals
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Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
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Biocompatible Materials / metabolism
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Carbocyanines / chemistry
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Carbocyanines / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
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Cells, Cultured
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Chondrocytes / cytology
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Chondrocytes / drug effects*
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Chondrocytes / physiology*
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Chondrogenesis / drug effects*
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Collagen Type II / genetics
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Collagen Type II / metabolism
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Dexamethasone / chemistry
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Dexamethasone / metabolism
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Dexamethasone / pharmacology*
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Drug Carriers / chemistry
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Drug Carriers / metabolism
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Female
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Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / chemistry
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Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / metabolism
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
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Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
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Glucocorticoids / chemistry
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Glucocorticoids / metabolism
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Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
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Humans
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Hydrogels / chemistry*
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Male
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Materials Testing
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Nude
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Rabbits
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Tissue Engineering / methods
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / chemistry
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / pharmacology*
Substances
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Acrylic Resins
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Biocompatible Materials
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CY5.5 cyanine dye
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Carbocyanines
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Collagen Type II
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Drug Carriers
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Glucocorticoids
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Hydrogels
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1
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poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide)
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Dexamethasone
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Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate