The effect of nanofibre-based polyethersulfone (PES) scaffold on the chondrogenesis of human induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been shown to have promising potential for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. Chondrogenic differentiation of iPSCs is important for application in cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, we considered the effect of nanofibre-based polyethersulfone (PES) scaffold on the chondrogenesis of iPSCs. IPSC cells were cultured on the PES scaffold and scaffold free method. After 21 d, real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the cartilage-specific genes in the mRNA levels. For confirm our results, we have done immunocytochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. According to the results, higher significant expressions of common chondrogenic-related genes such as aggrecan, collagen type II and collagen type X were observed in PES seeded human iPSCs when compared to the mRNA levels measured in scaffold free method. Expression of collagen type I down regulated in both methods. Also, both methods were showed a similar pattern of expression of SOX9. Our results showed that nanofibre-based PES scaffold enhanced the chondrogenesis of iPSCs and the highest capacity for differentiation into chondrocyte-like cells. These cells and PES scaffold were demonstrated to have great efficiency for treatment of cartilage damages and lesions.