Researchers find new strategy for developing tissue regeneration scaffolds

Tokyo University of ScienceMar 31 2020

In Japan, an increase in the aging population has exacerbated the demand for regenerative medicine to address increasingly common diseases, such as knee osteoarthritis. In a new study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science, led by Prof Hidenori Otsuka, have developed a novel biocompatible hydrogel that acts as a structural scaffold for the growth of cartilage-producing cells, showcasing a promising new tool for tissue regeneration.

Joint diseases, such as knee osteoarthritis, are common in the elderly population and severely impair their quality of life. Conventional treatments like artificial joint replacements offer temporary relief but come with several disadvantages, including limited functionality and the need for replacement. A better solution is to find a way to promote tissue regeneration in joints: interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels, when injected into joints, do exactly this—by acting as scaffolds for the growth of new cells and mimicking the cellular environment. However, existing techniques to develop IPNs are tedious: they require the addition of chemicals via multiple steps, which limits their practical application. Thus, there is a need for better techniques that can make the process of tissue regeneration easier.

In a new study published in Chemistry of Materials, scientists from Japan, including Asst Prof Shigehito Osawa and Prof Hidenori Otsuka of Tokyo University of Science, found a new method for developing tissue regeneration scaffolds.

Generally, the formation of IPN gels is a cytotoxic, multistep process: it involves constructing a network, followed by the addition of chemical reagents or subjecting them to external stimuli, such as temperature or changes in light irradiation, to form the other network. We wanted to create a novel scaffold using a one-step process, which could overcome the limitations of existing IPNs.”

Prof Hidenori Otsuka, Tokyo University of Science

To begin with, the scientists wanted to find self-assembling compounds that could form independent 3D networks without interfering with each other. They began by selecting a peptide called RADA16, which—under physiological conditions—forms a network owing to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Then, they turned to a biopolymer called chitosan (CH) and a compound called polyethylene glycol (PEG), which form networks with each other via chemical reactions. Because the mechanisms of network formation in RADA16 and CH/PEG were drastically different, the scientists speculated that these networks would not interfere with each other. By simply mixing the two compounds, they found that this was indeed true. Prof Otsuka explains, “We mixed the two materials, RADA16 and CH/PEG, and found that they successfully formed heterologous IPNs. Moreover, these IPNs did not interfere with each other, as it turns out that the RADA16 networks form first, followed by the slower assembly of CH/PEG networks.”

Next, the researchers wanted to check if the proposed IPN could effectively act as a scaffold to promote the growth of healthy chondrocytes (cells that produce cartilage). The scientists tested the scaffold using human cells and found that cells are embedded uniformly in the hydrogel, effectively generating functional cartilage tissue. In fact, in mice, implanting human chondrocytes within the hydrogel scaffold led to cartilage formation over a period of 8 weeks, even surpassing the performance of conventional tissue scaffolds! The biggest advantage of this technique was that not only did it successfully regenerate cartilage tissue, it was also performed in just one step or “pot,” making it much simpler than existing techniques.

These findings could potentially overcome the limitations of tissue regeneration and pave the way for further applications such as drug delivery, diagnosis, and surface modification. Not just this, Prof Otsuka is optimistic that owing to the ease of the technique, it can be produced domestically, which could lead to significant social and economic benefits. Prof Otsuka concludes, “Our research has opened doors to the use of regenerative medicine for autonomous cartilage generation as an alternative to artificial joints, leading to significant improvement in patients’ quality of life and benefiting the society overall.”