Lijun Kong

Preparation and Characterization of a Multilayer Biomimetic Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

In scaffold based bone tissue engineering, both the pore size and the mechanical properties of the scaffold are of great importance. However, an increase in pore size is generally accompanied by a decrease in mechanical properties. In order to achieve both suitable mechanical properties and porosity, a multilayer scaffold is designed to mimic the structure of cancellous bone and cortical bone. A porous nano-hydroxyapatite—chitosan composite scaffold with a multilayer structure is fabricated and encased in a smooth compact chitosan membrane layer to prevent fibrous tissue ingrowth. The exterior tube is shown to have a small pore size (15—40 μm in diameter) for the enhancement of mechanical properties, while the core of the multilayer scaffold has a large pore size (predominantly 70—150 μm in diameter) for nutrition supply and bone formation. Compared with the uniform porous scaffold, the multilayer scaffold with the same size shows an enhanced mechanical strength and larger pore size in the center. More cells are shown to grow into the center of the multilayer scaffold in vitro than into the uniform porous scaffold under the same seeding condition. Finally, the scaffolds are implanted into a rabbit fibula defect to evaluate the osteoconductivity of the scaffold and the efficacy of the scaffold as a barrier to fibrous tissue ingrowth. At 12 weeks post operation, affluent blood vessels and bone formation are found in the center of the scaffold and little fibrous tissue is noted in the defect site.

The behavior of MC3T3-E1 cells on chitosan/poly-L-lysine composite films: Effect of nanotopography, surface chemistry, and wettability

In the present work, a series of composite films were produced from chitosan/poly-L-lysine blend solutions. The surface topography, chemistry, and wettability of composite films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and contact angle assay, respectively. For all composite films, blending with poly-L-lysine induced changes in surface chemistry and wettability. Interestingly, it was also found that increasing poly-L-lysine weight fraction in blend solutions could result in different nanoscaled surface topographic features, which displayed particle-, granule-, or fiber-dominant morphologies. MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells were cultured on all composite films to evaluate the effects of surface nanotopography, chemistry, and wettability on cell behavior. The observations indicated that MC3T3-E1 cell behavior was affected by surface topography, chemistry, and wettability simultaneously and that cells showed strong responses to surface topography. On fiber-dominant surface, cells fully spread with obvious cytoskeleton organization and exhibited significantly higher level of adhesion and proliferation compared with particle- or granule-dominant surfaces. Furthermore, fiber-dominant surface also induced greater expression of mature osteogenic marker osteocalcin and higher mineralization based on RT-PCR and von Kossa staining. The results suggest that topographic modification of chitosan substratum at the nanoscale may be exploited in regulating cell behavior for its applications in tissue engineering.

Porous Chitosan Microcarriers for Large Scale Cultivation of Cells for Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Evaluation*

Abstract Porous chitosan microspheres with diameters ranging from 180 μm to 280 μm were successfully prepared, using an anti-phase suspension method combined with temperature controlled freeze-extraction. The mean pore diameter could be regulated from 5 μm to 60 μm by varying the freezing temperature through the cooling rate. Results with in vitro chondrocyte cultures showed that cells could attach, proliferate, and spread on these porous microspheres as well as inside the microcarriers. The materials and cell co-cultures were characterized using both optical and scanning electron microscopy. These results show that the porous chitosan microspheres are promising candidates for tissue culture for use as an injectable tissue engineering scaffold.

Properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) films modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone and behavior of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cultured on the blended films.

A series of composite films of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was prepared by varying the ratio of constituents, and their properties and cytocompatibility were evaluated. The hydrophilicity of the blended materials surfaces increased and the amounts of fibronectin and laminin adsorbed on the materials surface increased remarkably compared with PHBHHx. FT-IR spectra of the blended films showed a new band, implying that a surface physical interpenetrating network structure had formed. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there were dense pits and holes on the blended films surface. For the films of PHBHHx with 20 wt% and 40 wt% PVP, MTT assay indicated that PVP enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation, but that the effects were impaired by excessive PVP. The results suggested that proper addition of PVP increased the cytocompatibility of PHBHHx because the material surface had increased hydrophilicity and presented an appropriate morphology.

Compatibility of Chitosan-Gelatin Films with Adipose Tissue Derived Stromal Cells*

Abstract Chitosan has been shown to be a promising material for various applications in tissue engineering. Recently, adipose tissue derived stromal cells (ADSCs) have been investigated as an alternative source of seed cells for tissue engineering. The compatibility of chitosan and chitosan-gelatin complexes with ADSCs is not known. In the present study, ADSCs were isolated and characterized by phenotype using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The morphology, viability, and the ability of the ADSCs to differentiate on chitosan and chitosan-gelatin composite films with 60 wt.% gelatin were evaluated. Results show that the ADSCs are positive for CD29, CD44, and CD105, but negative for CD31, CD34, and CD45. ADSCs adhere and grow better on the composite films than on the chitosan films. The ability of ADSCs to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineage cells is not affected by their being cultured on chitosan-gelatin composite films. Therefore, chitosan-gelatin composite films are compatible with ADSCs and do not impair the ability of ADSCs to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineage cells.

Behavior of MC3T3-El osteoblast cultured on chitosan modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone

Abstract The physical and chemical properties of four kinds of modified chitosan materials made by blending chitosan with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were investigated. All four of these modified chitosan materials were hydrophilic with water contact angles ranging from 59° to 69°. Fourier transform-infrared spectra of the modified materials showed a new band at 1288 cm −1 , implying formation of a surface physical interpenetrating network structure. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay results indicated that much less fibronectin was adsorbed on the modified materials than on only chitosan. The viability of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cultured on the materials was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl- 2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. The results show that adding PVP10000 into the chitosan promotes adhesion of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts on the modified materials, but has no effect on cell growth and proliferation; while adding PVP40000 reduces cell adhesion, growth, and proliferation. The results suggest that the increased hydrophilicity of the material surface does not always improve its biocompatibility, which will influence the selection and design of biomaterials.