Journal of Cell Science & Therapy
Open Access

Osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells and amniotic fl uid stem cells in large, biodegradable scaffolds

International Conference & Exhibition on Cell Science & Stem Cell Research

29 Nov - 1 Dec 2011 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, USA

Peister A, Rodriguez DE, Prince JJ, Gray DP, Gower LB, Guldberg RE

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cell Sci Ther

Abstract :

Cell-based tissue engineering strategies represent a clinical alternative to bone graft ing. Th e success of cell-based therapies for bone regeneration has been limited in part by inadequate availability of large quantities of osteogenic cells. Th e goals of this study were to determine the potential of AFS cells to diff erentiate into osteoblasts, produce mineralized matrix in vitro , and support bone formation in in vivo ectopic bone defect models. Cells were grown on a 3-dimensional (3D) PCL scaff old produced through fused deposition modeling with a porosity of 85%. To increase cell viability and diff erentiation, the cell-seeded PCL scaff olds were placed in dynamic perfusion throughout the diff erentiation in vitro . We found that AFS cells mineralization initially lagged that of MSCs but caught up by 7 weeks of culture. Interestingly, the rate of mineral production between 5 and 15 weeks was signifi cantly higher in the AFS cells than the MSCs. At 15 weeks in vitro , cells were located throughout the scaff old with very high cell viability. Preliminary in vivo studies were performed with AFS cells seeded on PCL scaff olds and then diff erentiated for varying amounts of time in vitro prior to subcutaneous implantation. Robust mineralization was seen only in the AFS cell constructs pre-cultured for 4 weeks. Th ese results suggest that in vitro pre-diff erentiation is required for AFS cells to form bone at an ectopic site in vivo . Future studies will examine and compare the abilities of the MSCs and AFS cells to accelerate functional repair of large segmental bone defects in rats

Biography :

Alexandra Peister completed her PhD in human genetics in 2004 from Tulane University. Postdoctoral research was conducted at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Department of Biomedical Engineering. Since 2007 she has been an Assistant Professor of Biology at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. She has published 18 peer-reviewed papers as well as contributed to book chapters