Affiliations: Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK | TSL Centre of Biologics, Covidien, Allerton Bywater, Castleford, UK
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Paul Genever, Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK. Tel.: +44 1904328649; Fax: +44 1904328659; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Biomimetic scaffolds, delivered to the patient with or without cell loading, can offer improved treatments for a range of damaged or diseased tissues. In this work we evaluated the capacity of a cross-linked collagen-based implant material (Permacol™) to support the survival and growth of multipotent stromal cells or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for potential applications in soft-tissue reconstruction and compared it to uncross-linked collagen. We showed, using confocal imaging, histology, quantitative analysis of seeding efficiencies by the MTT assay and Live/Dead analysis, that Permacol™ supported the adherence, growth and survival of MSCs preserving a healthy cell phenotype. MSCs infiltrated both matrices, although migration rates were significantly higher on uncross-linked matrices for some donors. Our work demonstrates that Permacol™ could maintain human MSCs in long-term culture supporting its use as a cell-seeded biomaterial for durable and strong repair in tissue reconstruction.
Keywords: Mesenchymal human stem cells, collagen implant material, regenerative, surgical
