Novel chitosan/collagen scaffold containing transforming growth factor-β1 DNA for periodontal tissue engineering

The current rapid progression in tissue engineering and local gene delivery system has enhanced our applications to periodontal tissue engineering. In this study, porous chitosan/collagen scaffolds were prepared through a freeze-drying process, and loaded with plasmid and adenoviral vector encoding human transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). These scaffolds were evaluated in vitro by analysis of microscopic structure, porosity, and cytocompatibility. Human periodontal ligament cells (HPLCs) were seeded in this scaffold, and gene transfection could be traced by green fluorescent protein (GFP). The expression of type I and type III collagen was detected with RTPCR, and then these scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into athymic mice. Results indicated that the pore diameter of the genecombined scaffolds was lower than that of pure chitosan/collagen scaffold. The scaffold containing Ad-TGF-beta 1 exhibited the highest proliferation rate, and the expression of type I and type III collagen up-regulated in Ad-TGF-beta 1 scaffold. After implanted in vivo, EGFP-transfected HPLCs not only proliferated but also recruited surrounding tissue to grow in the scaffold. This study demonstrated the potential of chitosan/collagen scaffold combined Ad-TGF-beta 1 as a good substrate candidate in periodontal tissue engineering. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.