Integrating melt-electrowriting and inkjet bioprinting for engineering structurally organized articular cartilage

Successful cartilage engineering requires the generation of biological grafts mimicking the structure, composition and mechanical behaviour of the native tissue. Here melt-electrowriting (MEW) was used to produce arrays of polymeric structures whose function was to orient the growth of cellular aggregates spontaneously generated within these structures, and to provide tensile reinforcement to the resulting tissues. Inkjeting was used to deposit defined numbers of cells into MEW structures, which self-assembled into an organized array of spheroids within hours, ultimately generating a hybrid tissue that was hyaline-like in composition. Structurally, the engineered cartilage mimicked the histotypical organization observed in skeletally immature synovial joints. This biofabrication framework was then used to generate scaled-up (50mm x 50mm) cartilage implants containing over 3,500 cellular aggregates in under 15 minutes. After 8 weeks in culture, a 50-fold increase in the compressive properties of these MEW reinforced tissues were observed, while the tensile properties were still dominated by the polymer network, resulting in a composite construct demonstrating tension-compression nonlinearity mimetic of the native tissue. Helium ion microscopy further demonstrated the development of an arcading collagen network within the engineered tissue. This hybrid bioprinting strategy provides a versatile and scalable approach to engineer cartilage biomimetic grafts for biological joint resurfacing.

In Vitro Effects of Bupivacaine on the Viability and Mechanics of Native and Engineered Cartilage Grafts

Background: Although the toxic effects of bupivacaine on chondrocyte monolayer culture have been well described, its cellular and mechanical effects on native and engineered articular cartilage remain unclear. For the repair of articular cartilage defects, fresh autologous and allogenic cartilage grafts are commonly used, and engineered cell-based therapies are emerging. The outcome of grafting therapies aimed at repairing damaged cartilage relies largely on maintaining proper viability and mechanical suitability of the donor tissues. Purpose: To investigate the in vitro effects of single bupivacaine exposure on the viability and mechanics of 2 cartilage graft types: native articular cartilage and engineered neocartilage. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Articular cartilage explants were harvested from the bovine stifle femoral condyles, and neocartilage constructs were engineered from bovine stifle chondrocytes using the self-assembling process, a scaffold-free approach to engineer cartilage tissue. Both explants and neocartilage were exposed to chondrogenic medium containing a clinically applicable bolus of 0.5%, 0.25%, or 0% (control) bupivacaine for 1 hour, followed by fresh medium wash and exchange. Cell viability and matrix content (collagen and glycosaminoglycan) were assessed at t = 24 hours after treatment, and compressive mechanical properties were assessed with creep indentation testing at t = 5 to 6 days after treatment. Results: Single bupivacaine exposure was chondrotoxic in both explants and neocartilage, with 0.5% bupivacaine causing a significant decrease in chondrocyte viability compared with the control condition (55.0% ± 13.4% vs 71.9% ± 13.5%; P < .001). Bupivacaine had no significant effect on matrix content for either tissue type. There was significant weakening of the mechanical properties in the neocartilage when treated with 0.5% bupivacaine compared with control, with decreased aggregate modulus (415.8 ± 155.1 vs 660.3 ± 145.8 kPa; P = .003), decreased shear modulus (143.2 ± 14.0 vs 266.5 ± 89.2 kPa; P = .002), and increased permeability (14.7 ± 8.1 vs 6.6 ± 1.7 × 10−15 m4/Ns; P = .009). Bupivacaine exposure did not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of native cartilage explants. Conclusion: Single bupivacaine exposure resulted in significant chondrotoxicity in native explants and neocartilage and significant weakening of mechanical properties of neocartilage. The presence of abundant extracellular matrix does not appear to confer any additional resistance to the toxic effects of bupivacaine. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should be judicious regarding the use of intra-articular bupivacaine in the setting of articular cartilage repair.

Influence of Cannabinoid on Interleukin-1β Treated Cartilage: An In Vitro Study

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Cannabinoids have been reported to possess the analgesic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studied further shown that cannabinoids attenuated joint damage in animal models of arthritis. However, the underlying mechanism has been completely understood. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine that can result in the degradation of cartilage, is associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In this study, we hypothesize that cannabinoid can mitigate the detrimental effect of IL-1β on cartilage, thus reduce the progression of osteoarthritis. To test the hypothesis, we insulted human chondrocyte-derived cartilage with IL-1 β for 48 hours and then applied a synthetic cannabinoid agonist, Win- 55,212-2(Win-55), into the culture. The tissue phenotypes were assessed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histology and immunostaining. Methods: With the approval from CORID, human chondrocytes were isolated from healthy articular cartilage. P2 cells were used. MTS assay were employed to test the half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50). To generate cartilage in vitro, chondrocytes were pelleted and subjected to 14 days chondrogenic culture. The engineered cartilages were stimulated with 10 ng/ml IL-1β for 48 hours and then treated with different concentration of Win-55 (0.01, 0.1, or 1 µM) for another 48 hours. The tissue phenotype was assessed by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) assay, real-time PCR and histology. Results: We tested 10 doses, from 0.001µM up to 10 µM, and determined that the IC 50 of Win-55 on human chondrocytes for 2 days was ˜ 2 µM. Interestingly, this dose is significantly lower than the doses reported in similar studies. As shown in Figure 1, treatment with 2µM Win-55 causes the complete loss of GAG from engineer cartilage. In a relatively safe dose (<=1 µM), we did not observe obvious changes in all tested genes after the treatments of Win-55 (Figure 2). Conclusion: High dose of Win-55 may directly cause the degeneration of cartilage, while low dose of Win-55 doesn’t show beneficial influence on the phenotype of IL1-β-insulted cartilage. The reported anti-inflammatory effect of Win 55 on chondrocytes may due to the cytotoxicity or global inhibition of high dose Win 55 on cell activities. Therefore, if cannabinoid can be used to treat OA requires further investigation.

Regulation of Decellularized Tissue Remodeling via Scaffold-Mediated Lentiviral Delivery in Anatomically-Shaped Osteochondral Constructs

Cartilage-derived matrix (CDM) has emerged as a promising scaffold material for tissue engineering of cartilage and bone due to its native chondroinductive capacity and its ability to support endochondral ossification. Because it consists of native tissue, CDM can undergo cellular remodeling, which can promote integration with host tissue and enables it to be degraded and replaced by neotissue over time. However, enzymatic degradation of decellularized tissues can occur unpredictably and may not allow sufficient time for mechanically competent tissue to form, especially in the harsh inflammatory environment of a diseased joint. The goal of the current study was to engineer cartilage and bone constructs with the ability to inhibit aberrant inflammatory processes caused by the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1), through scaffold-mediated delivery of lentiviral particles containing a doxycycline-inducible IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) transgene on anatomically-shaped CDM constructs. Additionally, scaffold-mediated lentiviral gene delivery was used to facilitate spatial organization of simultaneous chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation via site-specific transduction of a single mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population to overexpress either chondrogenic, transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3), or osteogenic, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), transgenes. Controlled induction of IL-1Ra expression protected CDM hemispheres from inflammation-mediated degradation, and supported robust bone and cartilage tissue formation even in the presence of IL-1. In the absence of inflammatory stimuli, controlled cellular remodeling was exploited as a mechanism for fusing concentric CDM hemispheres overexpressing BMP-2 and TGF-β3 into a single bi-layered osteochondral construct. Our findings demonstrate that site-specific delivery of inducible and tunable transgenes confers spatial and temporal control over both CDM scaffold remodeling and neotissue composition. Furthermore, these constructs provide a microphysiological, in vitro, joint, organoid model with site-specific, tunable, and inducible protein delivery systems for examining the spatiotemporal response to pro-anabolic and/or inflammatory signaling across the osteochondral interface.

Role of Collagen Content and Architecture in the Load Bearing Capabilities of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage

A promising treatment for damaged cartilage is to replace it with tissue-engineered (TE) cartilage. However, the insufficient load-bearing capacity of today’s TE cartilage is an important limiting factor in its clinical application. In native cartilage, collagen fibers resist tension and proteoglycans (PG’s) attract water through osmotic pressure and resist its flow, which allows cartilage to withstand high compressive forces. One of the main challenges for tissue engineering of mechanically stable cartilage is therefore to find the cues to create an engineered tissue with an ultrastructure similar to that of native tissue. Currently, it is possible to tissue engineer cartilage with almost native PG content but collagen reaches only 1/4 of the native content [1]. Furthermore, the specific depth dependent arcade-like organization of collagen in native cartilage (i.e. vertical fibers in the deep zone and horizontal fibers in the superficial zone), which is optimized for distributing loads, has not been addressed in TE’d cartilage. However, the relative importance of matrix component content and collagen network architecture to the mechanical performance of TE cartilage is poorly understood, perhaps because this would require substantial effort on time consuming and labor-intensive experimental studies. The aim of this study is to explore if it is sufficient to produce a tissue with abundant proteoglycans and/or collagen, or whether reproducing the specific arcade-like collagen network in the implant is essential to develop sufficient load-bearing capacity, using a numerical approach.

Agarose Concentration and TGF-B3 Supplementation Influence Matrix Deposition in Engineered Cartilage Constructs

High prevalence of osteoarthritis and poor intrinsic healing capacity of articular cartilage create a demand for cell-based strategies for cartilage repair. It is possible to tissue engineer cartilage with almost native proteoglycan content, but collagen reaches only 15% to 35% of the native content. Also its natural structural organization is not reproduced. These drawbacks contribute to its insufficient load-bearing properties.

Mechanical Stimulation Enhances Collagen Synthesis in Periosteum-Derived Cartilage

High prevalence of osteoarthritis and poor intrinsic healing capacity of articular cartilage create a demand for cell-based strategies for cartilage repair. It is possible to tissue engineer cartilage with almost native proteoglycan content, but collagen reaches only 15% to 35% of the native content. Also its natural arcade-like structural organization is not reproduced. These drawbacks contribute to its insufficient load-bearing properties. It is generally believed that the application of mechanical loading during culturing will improve the mechanical properties. However, a suitable mechanical loading regime has not yet been established.