Fabrication and in Vitro Evaluation of Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds Based on Gelatin/PCL-PEG-PCL for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

The self-repair of cartilage tissue is limited. Hydrogels with 3D hydrated polymers have properties that make them a suitable material for cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, a novel nanocomposite hydrogel based on gelatin/polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol (Gel/PCEC-TGF beta 1) was prepared and evaluated for the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (hAD-MSCs). The porosity of the prepared scaffolds was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Swelling behavior and mechanical properties of the prepared hydrogels were evaluated. h-AD-MSCs were cultured on each scaffold for 14 days, and cell attachment was investigated by SEM. The cell viability was studied using MTT assay. Toluidine blue staining was carried out to evaluate the synthesis of proteoglycan. Real-time PCR assay was used to monitor the expression of collagen II and aggrecan genes. The data showed that scaffolds support cell proliferation in comparison to control group. Histological analyses with toluidine blue staining exhibited the deposition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Real-time PCR analysis also indicated that hydrogels, especially the nanocomposite hydrogel, showed the potential to express collagen II and aggrecan genes. Therefore, the Gel/PCEC-TGF beta 1 nanocomposite hydrogels have the potential for the growth and differentiation of h-AD-MSCs and can be a promising biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering.