Cartilage injuries remain challenging since the regenerative capacity of cartilage is extremely low. The aim was to design a novel type of bioactive glass (BG) scaffold with suitable topology that allows the formation of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) after colonization with chondrogenic cells for cartilage repair. Highly porous scaffolds with interconnecting pores consisting of 100 % BG were manufactured using a melting, milling, sintering and leaching technique. Scaffolds were colonized with porcine articular chondrocytes (pAC) and undifferentiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) for up to 35 days.

Scaffolds displayed high cytocompatibility with no major pH shift. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the intimate pAC-scaffold interaction with typical cell morphology. After 14 days MSCs formed cell clusters but still expressed cartilage markers. Both cell types showed aggrecan, SOX9 gene and protein expression, cartilage proteoglycan and sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis for the whole culture time. Despite type II collagen gene expression could not anymore be detected at day 35, protein synthesis was visualized for both cell types during the whole culturing period, increasing in pAC and declining after day 14 in hMSC cultures.

The novel BG scaffold was stable, cytocompatible and cartilage-specific protein synthesis indicated maintenance of pAC's differentiated phenotype and chondro-instructive effects on hMSCs.

由于软骨的再生能力极低，软骨损伤仍然具有挑战性。目的是设计一种具有合适拓扑结构的新型生物活性玻璃 (BG) 支架，允许在与软骨细胞定植后形成软骨特异性细胞外基质 (ECM) 进行软骨修复。使用熔化、研磨、烧结和浸出技术制造具有由 100% BG 组成的互连孔的高度多孔支架。支架被猪关节软骨细胞 (pAC) 和未分化的人类间充质基质细胞 (hMSC) 定植长达 35 天。

支架显示出高细胞相容性，没有重大的 pH 值变化。扫描电子显微镜揭示了 pAC-支架与典型细胞形态的密切相互作用。14 天后，MSCs 形成细胞簇，但仍表达软骨标志物。两种细胞类型在整个培养时间都显示聚集蛋白聚糖、SOX9 基因和蛋白质表达、软骨蛋白聚糖和硫酸化糖胺聚糖合成。尽管在第 35 天无法再检测到 II 型胶原基因表达，但在整个培养期间，两种细胞类型的蛋白质合成均可见，在 hMSC 培养物中 pAC 增加并在第 14 天后下降。

新型 BG 支架稳定、细胞相容性和软骨特异性蛋白质合成表明 pAC 的分化表型和对 hMSC 的软骨指​​导作用的维持。