Time-Regulated Drug Delivery System Based on Coaxially Incorporated Platelet α-Granules for Biomedical Use

Abstract

Aim: Platelet derivatives serve as an efficient source of natural growth factors. In the current study, α-granules were incorporated into coaxial nanofibers. Materials & methods: A nanofiber scaffold containing α-granules was prepared by coaxial electrospinning. The biological potential of the nanofiber scaffold was evaluated in chondrocyte and mesenchymal stem cell cultivation studies. Additionally, the concentration of TGF-β1 was determined. Results: Microscopy studies showed that intact α-granules were incorporated into the coaxial nanofibers. The cultivation tests showed that the novel scaffold stimulated viability and extracellular matrix production of chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, the concentration of growth factors necessary for the induction of cell proliferation significantly decreased. Conclusion: The system preserved α-granule bioactivity and stimulated cell viability and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Core/shell nanofibers incorporating α-granules are a promising system for tissue engineering, particularly cartilage engineering.

Original submitted 21 March 2012; Revised submitted 8 August 2012; Published online 2 December 2012

Keywords::

• α-granules
• chondrocyte
• core/shell material
• electrospinning
• encapsulation
• growth factor
• mesenchymal stem cell

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This research was supported by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (institutional research plans AV0Z50390703 and AV0Z503905120), the Grant Agency of Charles University (grant no: 330611, 384311, 626012), Grant Agency of Czech Republic (grant no. P304/10/1307), the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic – Project ERA-NET CARSILA no. ME 10145, Grant Agency of the Czech Ministry of Health (project no. NT12156). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Cactus Communications Inc. provided language help and proofreading of the manuscript. The writing assistance was funded by project no. 384311 from the Grant Agency of Charles University.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (institutional research plans AV0Z50390703 and AV0Z503905120), the Grant Agency of Charles University (grant no: 330611, 384311, 626012), Grant Agency of Czech Republic (grant no. P304/10/1307), the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic – Project ERA-NET CARSILA no. ME 10145, Grant Agency of the Czech Ministry of Health (project no. NT12156). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.