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Since its identification in November 2021, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant of concern has rapidly spread across the globe (1). In South Korea, the first [...]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of concern has been suggested to be more transmissible than previous variants of concern (1). We describe an outbreak [...]

The objectives of this study were (1) to develop a three-dimensional chitosan scaffold in combination with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-loaded chitosan microspheres and (2) to evaluate the effect of the TGF-beta1 release on the chondrogenic potential of rabbit chondrocytes in the scaffolds. TGF-beta1 was loaded into chitosan microspheres using an emulsion-crosslinking method, resulting in spherical shapes with a size ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 microm. Controlled release of TGF-beta1, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was observed with chitosan microspheres over 7 days. Chitosan solutions (2% and 3%) were fabricated into two types of scaffolds with different pore morphologies and mechanical properties using a freeze-drying technique, with the result that scaffold with higher concentrations showed smaller pores and lower porosity, leading to a much stronger scaffold. The TGF-beta1 microspheres were incorporated into the scaffolds at a concentration of 10 ng TGF-beta1/scaffold and then chondrocytes seeded into each scaffold and incubated in vitro for 2 weeks. The 2% chitosan scaffolds showed higher cell attachment levels than the 3% chitosan scaffolds (P < 0.01), regardless of the TGF-beta1 microspheres. Both the proliferation rate and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production were significantly higher for scaffolds incorporating TGF-beta1 microspheres than for the control scaffolds without microspheres 10 days after incubation. Extracellular matrix staining by Safranin O and immunohistochemistry for type II collagen both significantly increased in scaffolds containing TGF-beta1 microspheres. These results suggest that the TGF-beta1 microsphere incorporated in scaffolds have the potential to enhance cartilage formation.

The objectives of this study were (1) to develop a three-dimensional collagen/chitosan/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) scaffold in combination with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta 1)-loaded chitosan microspheres, and (2) to evaluate the effect of released TGF-beta 1 on the chondrogenic potential of rabbit chondrocytes in such scaffolds. TGF-beta 1 was loaded into chitosan microspheres using an emulsion-crosslinking method. The controlled release of TGF-beta 1, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was monitored for 7 days. The porous scaffolds containing collagen and chitosan were fabricated by using a freeze drying technique and crosslinked using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) in the presence of chondroitin sulfate (CS), as a GAG component. The TGF-beta 1 microspheres were encapsulated into the scaffold at a concentration of 10 ng TGF-beta 1/scaffold and then chondrocytes were seeded in the scaffold and incubated in vitro for 3 weeks. Both proliferation rate and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production were significantly higher in the TGF-beta 1 microsphere-incorporated scaffolds than in the control scaffolds without microspheres. Extracellular matrix staining by Safranin O and immunohistochemistry for type II collagen were elevated in the scaffold with TGF-beta 1 microspheres. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 microspheres when incorporated into a scaffold have the potential to enhance cartilage formation.