Injectable hydrogel functionalised with thrombocyte - rich solution and microparticles for accelerated cartilage regeneration
Abstract
The aim of the in vitro study was to develop a novel functionalised hydrogel with an integrated drug delivery system stimulating articular cartilage regeneration. Injectable collagen/ hyaluronic acid/fibrin composite hydrogel, mixed with nanofibre-based microparticles loaded with ascorbic acid and dexamethasone and/or thrombocyte-rich solution (TRS) were prepared, seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and biologically tested.
Moreover, scaffold degradation was also assessed. Scaffolds showed good biocompatibility, however, the number of cells in the groups enriched with microparticles was lower than in the other groups.
On the other hand, confocal microscopy showed higher cell viability and rounded morphology of the cells, which can be associated with chodrogenic differentiation. The scaffolds containing microparticles showed significantly higher stability during the 14-day experiment.
The novel approach described here produced an efficient system where microparticles served as a drug delivery system and stabilised the gel for prolonged periods of time. These characteristics play an important role in the development of scaffolds for cartilage regeneration.