Growth Factors and Signalling Molecules for Cartilage Tissue Engineering – from Embryology to Innovative Release Strategies for Guided Tissue Engineering

Abstract

In the present report we demonstrate that growth plate cartilage is a suitable model for strategies to target potential signalling molecules and growth factors for tissue engineering. Furthermore, we described the synthesis of a scaffold material with a structural design that gives ingrowing cells a pre-defined microenvironment similar to the cellular organization in native articular cartilage. Based on knowledge gained from the development of bone we used PGE2 as a signalling molecule for cartilage tissue engineering strategies. In this context we firstly immobilized this molecule in polyester-based (PLGA) microspheres and then incorporated these in our gelatin-based orientated scaffold. The present experiments confirmed the prolonged release of PGE2 from the PLGA microspheres and the beneficial effects of low dose PGE2 for the phenotype of bovine and human articular chondrocytes seeded on the three-dimensional scaffold. Since PLGA release systems are already used for various substances the present microsphere-scaffold system opens the perspective for the incorporation of further signalling molecules and growth factors. Furthermore, our construct facilitates the systematic analysis of different factors influencing the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes in an identical three-dimensional environment. For further tissue engineering.