Preparation of biodegradable injectable hydrogels as scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

Cartilage tissue resorption is one of the important orthopedic problems. Tissue engineering is a growing field that can be used to repair or replace damaged tissue. In this area, the need for appropriate scaffolds to support cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation is essential. Hydrogels, as materials that mimic the extracellular matrix of tissue, have received much attention in recent years and effectively replace damaged tissue Objective: The aim of this study was to design and fabricate collagen-based hydrogel scaffolds for adhesion, growth and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells to cartilage. Methods: A hydrogel scaffold was prepared by mixing an acidic collagen solution with a solution of sodium alginate in the presence of calcium ions. The extent of swelling and scaffold morphology were studied. Dental pulp stem cells were cultured on the resulting 3D scaffold and the growth, adhesion and proliferation of cells on the scaffold were studied. Results: Collagen-alginate composite scaffold with hydrogel structure with high swelling ratio leads to adhesion and growth of dental pulp stem cells. The gel property of this scaffold gives it the ability to inject.