Abstract
In cell encapsulation, a suitable environment is provided for cell
growth, proliferation and differentiation. Alginate hydrogel is an ideal
medium for encapsulating cells and facilitating the production of
cartilage tissue due to its desirable properties. Also using Layer by
layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on microcapsules could be an ordinary
imitation of zonal organization of cartilage and force hypoxia to cells
encapsulated. In this project, alginate and chitosan, which are
structurally similar to glycosaminoglycans, were assembled layer by
layer on alginate microcapsules containing mesenchymal stem cells. The
formation of these nanolayers was checked using uv-vis absorption
technique and the amount of water absorption of different samples was
determined within a week. FESEM images showed that the microcapsules
have a completely porous and interconnected structure and the cells were
well entrapped inside them. The results of AO/PI staining revealed that
the cells showed viability for 7 days. The results of alcian blue
staining, antibody staining and the expression of genes demonstrated
that cartilaginous differentiation has occurred completely in the S10
sample, which has maximum number of nanolayers. These results showed
that the hypoxia applied due to the assembly of nanolayers has an
effective role in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into
chondrocyte cells.