Constructing a Collagen Hydrogel for the Delivery of Stem Cell-loaded Chitosan Microspheres

Summary

A major hurdle in current stem cell therapies is determining the most effective method to deliver these cells to host tissues. Here, we describe a chitosan-based delivery method that is efficient and simple in approach, while allowing adipose-derived stem cells to maintain their multipotency.

Abstract

Multipotent stem cells have been shown to be extremely useful in the field of regenerative medicine^1-3. However, in order to use these cells effectively for tissue regeneration, a number of variables must be taken into account. These variables include: the total volume and surface area of the implantation site, the mechanical properties of the tissue and the tissue microenvironment, which includes the amount of vascularization and the components of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, the materials being used to deliver these cells must be biocompatible with a defined chemical composition while maintaining a mechanical strength that mimics the host tissue. These materials must also be permeable to oxygen and nutrients to provide a favorable microenvironment for cells to attach and proliferate. Chitosan, a cationic polysaccharide with excellent biocompatibility, can be easily chemically modified and has a high affinity to bind with in vivo macromolecules^4-5. Chitosan mimics the glycosaminoglycan portion of the extracellular matrix, enabling it to function as a substrate for cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. In this study we utilize chitosan in the form of microspheres to deliver adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) into a collagen based three-dimensional scaffold⁶. An ideal cell-to-microsphere ratio was determined with respect to incubation time and cell density to achieve maximum number of cells that could be loaded. Once ASC are seeded onto the chitosan microspheres (CSM), they are embedded in a collagen scaffold and can be maintained in culture for extended periods. In summary, this study provides a method to precisely deliver stem cells within a three dimensional biomaterial scaffold.

Protocol

1. Isolating Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ASC)

Note: All procedures were performed at room temperature unless otherwise noted.

1. Isolate rat perirenal and epididymal adipose and wash with sterile Hank's buffered salt solution (HBSS) containing 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as previously described⁶.
2. Mince the tissue and transfer 1-2 g into 25 mL of HBSS containing 1% FBS into a 50 mL tube and centrifuge at 500 g for 8 min at room temperature.
3. Collect the free-floating adipose tissue layer and transfer to 125 mL erlenmeyer flask and treat with 25 mL of collagenase type II (200 U/mL) in HB....

Discussion

A major hurdle in stem cell-based therapy is developing efficient methods for delivery of cells to the specified regions for repair. Due to patient to patient variability, the tissue type, injury size and depth; the methodology of delivering stem cells must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Although embedding stem cells within a matrix and delivering them to the wound site appears to be a next logical approach for tissue engineering, some technical hurdles remain. This includes the ability of the embedded cel.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Hanks BalancedSalt Solution (HBSS)	GIBCO, by Life Technologies	14175	Consumable
Fetal Bovine Serum	Hyclone	SH30071.03	Consumable
Collagenase Type II	Sigma-Aldrich	C6685	Consumable
70-μm nylon mesh filter	BD Biosciences	352350	Consumable
100-μm nylon mesh filter	BD Biosciences	352360	Consumable
MesenPRO Growth Medium System	Invitrogen	12746-012	Consumable
L-glutamine	GIBCO, by Life Technologies	25030	Consumable
T75 Tissue Culture Flask	BD Biosciences	137787	Consumable
Chitosan	Sigma-Aldrich	448869	Consumable
Acetic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	320099	Consumable
N-Octanol	Acros Organics	150630025	Consumable
Sorbitan-Mono-oleate	Sigma-Aldrich	S6760	Consumable
Potassium Hydroxide	Sigma-Aldrich	P1767	Consumable
Acetone	Fisher Scientific	L-4859	Consumable
Ethanol	Sigma-Aldrich	270741	Consumable
Trinitro Benzenesulfonic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	P2297	Consumable
Hydrochloric Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	320331	Consumable
Ethyl Ether	Sigma-Aldrich	472-484	Consumable
8-μm Tissue Culture Plate Inserts	BD Biosciences	353097	Consumable
1.5-ml Microcentrifuge Tubes	Fisher Scientific	05-408-129	Consumable
MTT Reagent	Invitrogen	M6494	Consumable
Dimethyl Sulfoxide	Sigma-Aldrich	D8779	Consumable
Qtracker Cell Labeling Kit (Q tracker 655)	Molecular Probes, Life Technologies	Q2502PMP	Consumable
Type 1 Collagen	Travigen	3447-020-01	Consumable
Sodium Hydroxide	Sigma-Aldrich	S8045	Consumable
12-Well Tissue Culture Plates	BD Biosciences	353043	Consumable
Centrifuge	Eppendorf	5417R	Equipment
Orbital Shaker	New Brunswick Scienctific	C24	Equipment
Humidified Incubator with Air-5% CO2	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.	Model 370	Equipment
Overhead Stirrer	IKA	Visc6000	Equipment
Magnetic Stirrer	Corning	PC-210	Equipment
Vacuum Desiccator	-	-	Equipment
Particle Size Analyzer	Malvern Instruments	STP2000 Spraytec	Equipment
Water Bath	Fisher Scientific	Isotemp210	Equipment
Spectrophotometer	Beckman Coulter Inc.	Beckman Coulter DU800UV/Visible Spectrophotometer	Equipment
Vortex	Diagger	3030a	Equipment
Microplate Reader	Molecular Devices	SpectraMax M2	Equipment
Light/Fluorescence Microscope	Olympus Corporation	IX71	Equipment
Confocal Microscope	Olympus Corporation	FV-500 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope	Equipment
Scanning Electron Microscope	Carl Zeiss, Inc.	Leo 435 VP	Equipment
Transmission Electron Microscope	JEOL	JEOL 1230	Equipment