Background:
For the 3D cultures of chondrocytes, there is still a search for the best possible
biomaterial. The focus is on the porous PLLA (poly-L-lactate) again and again. Due
to the special production by means of thermoinduced phase separation (TIPS) and the
supplementation with bioactive glass one hopes for a higher differentiation rate and
homogeneous dispensation of the chondrocytes in the construct.
Methods:
The porous PLLA constructs with and without bioactive glass 1393 were transformed
from a ternary solution into a simple solution by the TIPS technique and analyzed
by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry.
Cultivation with human nasal chondrocytes took place over 7 and 14 days. At these
times, the vitality, attachment and morphology of the chondrocytes as well as SOX9
as a chondrogenic transcription factor and the production of the extracellular matrix
were investigated.
Results:
The majority of chondrocytes were vital at harvest times, distributed throughout the
construct, and synthesized glycosaminoglycans. The extracellular proteins collagen
II and aggrecan were particularly highly expressed in the constructs with a proportion
of 1% bioactive glass. Thus, the chondrocytes in this construct retain their differentiation
characteristics.
