In vitro chondral culture under compression and shear stimuli. From mesenchymal stem cells to hyaline cartilage

Abstract

Introduction: The in vitro creation of hyaline joint cartilage is a challenge since, to date, the ex vivo synthesis of a structured tissue with the same biomechanical and histological properties of the joint cartilage has not been achieved. To simulate the physiological conditions we have designed an in vitro culture system that reproduces joint movement.

Material and method: We have developed a cell culture bioreactor that prints a mechanical stimulus on an elastin matrix, in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are embedded. The first phase of study corresponds to the development of a bioreactor for hyaline cartilage culture and the verification of cell viability in the elastin matrix in the absence of stimulus. The second phase of the study includes the MSC culture under mechanical stimulus and the analysis of the resulting tissue.

Results: After culture under mechanical stimulation we did not obtain hyaline tissue due to lack of cellularity and matrix destructuring.

Conclusion: The stimulus pattern used has not been effective in generating hyaline cartilage, so other combinations should be explored in future research.

Keywords: Articular cartilage; Bioreactor; Biorreactor; Cartílago articular; Cartílago hialino; Compresión y cizallamiento; Compression and shear; Células madre mesenquimales; Estímulo mecánico; Hyaline cartilage; MSC; Mechanical stimulation; Mesenchymal stem cells.