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Research article2011Peer reviewedOpen access

In situ cross-linkable hyaluronan hydrogel enhances chondrogenesis

Aulin, Cecilia; Bergman, Kristoffer; Jensen Waern, Marianne; Hedenqvist, Patricia; Hilborn, Jöns; Engstrand, Thomas

Abstract

The present work describes the feasibility of a cross-linkable injectable hyaluronan hydrogel for cartilage repair. The hydrogel used is a two-component system based on aldehyde-modified hyaluronan and hydrazide-modified polyvinyl alcohol, which are rapidly cross-linked in situ upon mixing. The in vitro study showed that chondrocytes and mesenchymal cells cultured in the gel form cartilage-like tissue, rich in glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II and aggrecan. In a rabbit animal model the injection of the hydrogel improved the healing of a full-thickness cartilage defect created in the knee as compared to non-treated controls. This rabbit study showed that the regenerated cartilage defects stained more intensely for type II collagen upon treatment with the hydrogel. The hyaluronan-based hydrogel may be used as a delivery vehicle for both growth factors and/or cells for cartilage repair. The in vivo study also indicated that the hydrogel alone has a beneficial effect on cartilage regeneration. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords

cartilage; injectable hyaluronan; cross-linked; bone morphogenetic protein-2; rabbit model

Published in

Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
2011, Volume: 5, number: 8, pages: E188-E196
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL