Development of bioactive solid-foam scaffolds from decellularized cartilage with chondrogenic and osteogenic properties

Unai Mendibil, Yaiza Lópiz-Morales, Blanca Arnaiz, Raquel Ruiz-Hernández, Pablo Martín, Desiré Di-Silvio, Nerea Garcia-Urquia, Felix Elortza, Mikel Azkargorta, Beatriz Olalde*, Ander Abarrategi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Full osteochondral regeneration remains a major clinical challenge. Among other experimental cartilage regenerative approaches, decellularized cartilage (DCC) is considered a promising material for generating potentially implantable scaffolds useful as cartilage repair strategy. In this work, we focus on screening and comparing different decellularization methods, aiming to generate DCC potentially useful in biomedical context, and therefore, with biological activity and functional properties in terms of induction of differentiation and regeneration. Data indicates that enzymatic and detergents-based decellularization methods differentially affect ECM components, and that it has consequences in further biological behavior. SDS-treated DCC powder is not useful to be further processed in 2D or 3D structures, because these structures tend to rapidly solubilize, or disaggregate, in physiologic media conditions. Conversely, Trypsin-treated DCC powders can be processed to mechanically stable 2D films and 3D solid-foam scaffolds, presumably due to partial digestion of collagens during decellularization, which would ease crosslinking at DCC during solubilization and processing. In vitro cell culture studies indicate that these structures are biocompatible and induce and potentiate chondrogenic differentiation. In vivo implantation of DCC derived 3D porous scaffolds in rabbit osteochondral defects induce subchondral bone regeneration and fibrocartilage tissue formation after implantation. Therefore, this work defines an optimal cartilage tissue decellularization protocol able to generate DCC powders processable to biocompatible and bioactive 2D and 3D structures. These structures are useful for in vitro cartilage research and in vivo subchondral bone regeneration, while hyaline cartilage regeneration with DCC alone as implantable material remains elusive.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101228
JournalMaterials Today Bio
Volume28
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2024

Keywords

  • Cartilage
  • Collagen
  • Decellularization
  • Extracellular matrix

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