Background:

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) injected directly have been proven effective for improving chronic wounds. However, HuMSCs largely die within 14 days. The aim of study is to establish a cellularly modified gelatin sponge and investigate its characteristics and clinical potential.

Methods:

HuMSCs were isolated, expanded and seeded in a poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated gelatin sponge. Fabricated gelatin sponges were estimated through observation of morphological surface and ultrastructure, following confirmed by histology method. Supernatants were collected at different times for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure growth factors. The cell embedded gelatin sponges were implanted subcutaneously on the backs of mice and the samples were harvested and studied histologically.

Results:

HuMSCs gradually modified the gelatin sponge by depositing collagen and hyaluronic acid, and degrading the structure of gelatin, resulting in a dense, and elastic structure. Compared with cells cultured in monolayer, the levels of growth factors increased remarkably when HuMSCs were cultivated in the gelatin sponge. Upon subcutaneous implantation in the backs of mice, the cellularized gelatin sponges persisted for up to 2 months and eventually integrated into the host tissue, while blank gelatin sponges degraded completely by the end of the second month.

Conclusion:

Gelatin sponge is a clinically accessible scaffold for HuMSCs implantation to maintain short-term survival of the cells and high-level production of growth factors, which demonstrates good clinical potential for enhancing wound healing.

中文翻译：

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细胞改性明胶海绵的特性和临床潜力

背景：

直接注射人脐带间充质干细胞 (HuMSCs) 已被证明可有效改善慢性伤口。然而，HuMSCs 在 14 天内大部分死亡。研究的目的是建立一种细胞修饰的明胶海绵并研究其特性和临床潜力。

方法：

HuMSCs 被分离、扩增并接种在聚-L-赖氨酸 (PLL) 涂层的明胶海绵中。通过观察形态表面和超微结构来估计制造的明胶海绵，然后通过组织学方法确认。在不同时间收集上清液用于酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA) 以测量生长因子。将细胞包埋的明胶海绵植入小鼠背部皮下，采集样品并进行组织学研究。

结果：

HuMSCs通过沉积胶原蛋白和透明质酸，降解明胶的结构，逐渐修饰明胶海绵，形成致密、有弹性的结构。与单层培养的细胞相比，在明胶海绵中培养HuMSCs时，生长因子的水平显着增加。在小鼠背部皮下植入后，细胞化的明胶海绵持续长达 2 个月并最终融入宿主组织，而空白明胶海绵在第二个月末完全降解。

结论：

明胶海绵是一种临床可及的支架，用于人类间充质干细胞植入，以维持细胞的短期存活和生长因子的高水平产生，这在促进伤口愈合方面具有良好的临床潜力。