Scaffolds for controlled release of cartilage growth factors

In recent years, cell-based therapies using adult stem cells have attracted considerable interest in regenerative medicine. A tissue-engineered construct for cartilage repair should provide a support for the cell and allow sustained in situ delivery of bioactive factors capable of inducing cell differentiation into chondrocytes. Pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs), made of biodegradable and biocompatible poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA), are a unique system which combines these properties in an adaptable and simple microdevice. This device relies on nanoprecipitation of proteins encapsulated in polymeric microspheres with a solid in oil in water emulsion-solvent evaporation process, and their subsequent coating with extracellular matrix protein molecules. Here, we describe their preparation process, and some of their characterization methods for an application in cartilage tissue engineering

New PLGA-P188-PLGA matrix enhances TGF-β3 release from pharmacologically active microcarriers and promotes chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells

The use of injectable scaffolding materials for in vivo tissue regeneration has raised great interest in various clinical applications because it allows cell implantation through minimally invasive surgical procedures. In case of cartilage repair, a tissue engineered construct should provide a support for the cell and allow sustained in situ delivery of bioactive factors capable of inducing cell differentiation into chondrocytes. Pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs), made of biodegradable poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA), are a unique system, which combines these properties in an adaptable and simple microdevice. However, a limitation of such scaffold is low and incomplete protein release that occurs using the hydrophobic PLGA based microspheres. To circumvent this problem, we developed a novel formulation of polymeric PAMs containing a P188 poloxamer, which protects the protein from denaturation and may positively affect chondrogenesis. This poloxamer was added as a free additive for protein complexation and as a component of the scaffold covalently linked to PLGA. This procedure allows getting a more hydrophilic scaffold but also retaining the protective polymer inside the microcarriers during their degradation. The novel PLGA-P188-PLGA PAMs presenting a fibronectin-covered surface allowed enhanced MSC survival and proliferation. When engineered with TGFβ3, they allowed the sustained release of 70% of the incorporated TGF-β3 over time. Importantly, they exerted superior chondrogenic differentiation potential compared to previous FN-PAM-PLGA-TGF-β3, as shown by an increased expression of specific cartilage markers such as cartilage type II, aggrecan and COMP. Therefore, this microdevice represents an efficient easy-to-handle and injectable tool for cartilage repair

Reversible protein precipitation to ensure stability during encapsulation within PLGA microspheres

Proteins were precipitated to ensure their stability upon subsequent encapsulation within PLGA microspheres. Spherical, nanosized protein particles were formed by the addition of a salt (sodium chloride) and a water-miscible organic solvent (glycofurol) to protein solutions. Various process parameters were modified to optimize the precipitation efficiency of four model proteins: lysozyme, alpha-chymotrypsin, peroxidase and beta-galactosidase. As monitored by enzymatic activity measurement of the rehydrated particles, conditions to obtain more than 95% of reversible precipitates were defined for each protein. The study of the structure of the rehydrated particles by absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism showed an absence of structural-perturbation after precipitation. Protein particles were then microencapsulated within PLGA microspheres using s/o/w technique. The average encapsulation yield was around 80% and no loss of protein activity occurred after the encapsulation step. Additionally, a lysozyme in vitro release study showed that all of the released lysozyme was biologically active. This method of protein precipitation is appropriate for the encapsulation in PLGA microspheres of various proteins without inactivation

Microsphere compositions, preparation method and applications thereof

A cell carrying microsphere composition, wherein the microsphere composition comprises a microspheric core comprising a triblock copolymer matrix A-B-A wherein A is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) or polylactide (PLA) and B is poloxamer or poloxamine, wherein the microspheric core is coated with a cell adhesion coating and further comprises whole cells or cell fragments bonded to the cell adhesion coating, a process for the preparation of a cell carrying microsphere composition, and applications thereof

Pharmacologically active microcarriers associated with thermosensitive hydrogel as a growth factor releasing biomimetic 3D scaffold for cardiac tissue-engineering

The challenge of tissue engineering of the infarcted heart is how to improve stem cell engraftment, survival, homing, and differentiation for myocardial repair. We here propose to integrate human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs), a three-dimensional (3D) carrier of cells and growth factors, into an injectable hydrogel (HG), to obtain a system that stimulates the survival and/or differentiation of the grafted cells toward a cardiac phenotype. PAMs are biodegradable and non-cytotoxic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres conveying cells on their 3D surface that deliver continuously and in a controlled manner a growth factor (GF) acting on the transported cells and on the microenvironment to improve engraftment. The choice of the appropriate GF and its protection during the formulation process and delivery are essential. In this study two GFs, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), have been encapsulated under a solid state in order to limit their interaction with the polymer and conserve their integrity. GF precipitation conditions and release profile from PAMs have been first investigated before combining them to ADSCs. The released IGF-1 and HGF induced the protein synthesis of cardiac differentiation markers GATA4, Nkx2.5, cTnI and CX43 after 1week in vitro. Moreover, the GFs accelerated cell cycle progression, as suggested by the increased expression of Cyclin D1 mRNA and the widespread distribution of Ki67 protein. Integrating PAMs within the thermosensitive P407 hydrogel increased their elastic properties but decreased the transcription of most cardiac markers. In contrast, CX43 expression increased in ADSC-PAM-GF complexes embedded within the hydrogel compared to the ADSCs cultured alone in the absence of P407. These results suggest that particulate scaffolds releasing HGF and IGF-1 may be beneficial for applications in tissue-engineering strategies for myocardial repair and the association with a P407 hydrogel can increase substrate elasticity and junction connections in ADSCs

Intravitreous injection of PLGA microspheres encapsulating GDNF promotes the survival of photoreceptors in the rd1/rd1 mouse.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential delay of the retinal degeneration in rd1/rd1 mice using recombinant human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (rhGDNF) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. METHODS: rhGDNF-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared using a water in oil in water (w/o/w) emulsion solvent extraction-evaporation process. In vitro, the rhGDNF release profile was assessed using radiolabeled factor. In vivo, rhGDNF microspheres, blank microspheres, or microspheres loaded with inactivated rhGDNF were injected into the vitreous of rd1/rd1 mice at postnatal day 11 (PN11). The extent of retinal degeneration was examined at PN28 using rhodopsin immunohistochemistry on whole flat-mount retinas, outer nuclear layer (ONL) cell counting on histology sections, and electroretinogram tracings. Immunohistochemical reactions for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), F4/80, and rhodopsin were performed on cryosections. RESULTS: Significant delay of rod photoreceptors degeneration was observed in mice receiving the rhGDNF-loaded microspheres compared to either untreated mice or to mice receiving blank or inactivated rhGDNF microspheres. The degeneration delay in the eyes receiving the rhGDNF microspheres was illustrated by the increased rhodopsin positive signals, the preservation of significantly higher number of cell nuclei within the ONL, and significant b-wave increase. A reduction of the subretinal glial proliferation was also observed in these treated eyes. No significant intraocular inflammatory reaction was observed after the intravitreous injection of the various microspheres. CONCLUSIONS: A single intravitreous injection of rhGDNF-loaded microspheres slows the retinal degeneration processes in rd1/rd1 mice. The use of injectable, biodegradable polymeric systems in the vitreous enables the efficient delivery of therapeutic proteins for the treatment of retinal diseases