Characterization of tissue-specific matrix-derived bioscaffolds for nucleus pulposus cell culture
Abstract
Bioscaffolds derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM) have shown the capacity to promote regeneration by providing tissue-specific biological instructive cues that can enhance cell survival and direct lineage-specific differentiation. This study focused on the development and characterization of two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture platforms incorporating decellularized nucleus pulposus (DNP). First, a novel detergent-free protocol was developed for decellularizing bovine NP tissues that was effective at removing cellular content while preserving key ECM constituents including collagens and glycosaminoglycans. Culture studies showed that 2-D coatings derived from the DNP could support cell attachment but did not maintain or rescue the phenotype of primary bovine NP cells, which dedifferentiated when serially passaged in monolayer culture on tissue culture plastics. Similarly, the incorporation of DNP particles within methacrylated chondroitin sulphate hydrogels as a 3-D culture platform was insufficient to maintain or rescue the bovine NP cell phenotype based on gene expression patterns.