Concave pit-containing scaffold surfaces improve stem cell-derived osteoblast performance and lead to significant bone tissue formation.

Authors

Antonio Graziano, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Istologia ed Embriologia, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Riccardo d'Aquino, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Istologia ed Embriologia, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Discipline Odontostomatologiche, Ortodontiche e Chirurgiche, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Maria Gabriella Cusella-De Angelis, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Universita degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Gregorio Laino, Dipartimento di Discipline Odontostomatologiche, Ortodontiche e Chirurgiche, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Adriano Piattelli, Dipartimento di Scienze Odontostomatologiche, Universita degli Studi "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
Maurizio Pacifici, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Alfredo De Rosa, Dipartimento di Discipline Odontostomatologiche, Ortodontiche e Chirurgiche, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Gianpaolo Papaccio, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Istologia ed Embriologia, Secondo Ateneo di Napoli, Naples, Italy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2007

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed and is published in PLoS Medicine 2007, 2(6). The published version is available at DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000496. © Public Library of Science

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Scaffold surface features are thought to be important regulators of stem cell performance and endurance in tissue engineering applications, but details about these fundamental aspects of stem cell biology remain largely unclear.

METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS: In the present study, smooth clinical-grade lactide-coglyolic acid 85:15 (PLGA) scaffolds were carved as membranes and treated with NMP (N-metil-pyrrolidone) to create controlled subtractive pits or microcavities. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy revealed that the NMP-treated membranes contained: (i) large microcavities of 80-120 microm in diameter and 40-100 microm in depth, which we termed primary; and (ii) smaller microcavities of 10-20 microm in diameter and 3-10 microm in depth located within the primary cavities, which we termed secondary. We asked whether a microcavity-rich scaffold had distinct bone-forming capabilities compared to a smooth one. To do so, mesenchymal stem cells derived from human dental pulp were seeded onto the two types of scaffold and monitored over time for cytoarchitectural characteristics, differentiation status and production of important factors, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We found that the microcavity-rich scaffold enhanced cell adhesion: the cells created intimate contact with secondary microcavities and were polarized. These cytological responses were not seen with the smooth-surface scaffold. Moreover, cells on the microcavity-rich scaffold released larger amounts of BMP-2 and VEGF into the culture medium and expressed higher alkaline phosphatase activity. When this type of scaffold was transplanted into rats, superior bone formation was elicited compared to cells seeded on the smooth scaffold.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, surface microcavities appear to support a more vigorous osteogenic response of stem cells and should be used in the design of therapeutic substrates to improve bone repair and bioengineering applications in the future.

Recommended Citation

Graziano, Antonio; d'Aquino, Riccardo; Cusella-De Angelis, Maria Gabriella; Laino, Gregorio; Piattelli, Adriano; Pacifici, Maurizio; De Rosa, Alfredo; and Papaccio, Gianpaolo, "Concave pit-containing scaffold surfaces improve stem cell-derived osteoblast performance and lead to significant bone tissue formation." (2007). Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 34.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/orthofp/34

PubMed ID

17551577