Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Fibrin Hydrogel Scaffold

Background and Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most widely used cell sources for cartilage tissue engineering. In the present study, human stem cells were used as a cell source. Scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering, therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the ability of fibrin scaffolds in chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). In this study, after preparing fibrin scaffold, isolating mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue, and confirming their isolation the cells were cultured into fibrin scaffolds. Seven days after cell culture, their potential of survival and growth were evaluated using MTT assay. Finally, 14 days after the end of the chondrogenic differentiation, gene expression analysis and chondrocyte morphology formation was performed by Real time PCR and histology analysis, respectively. The mesenchymal stem cell viability, proliferation and expression of 4 specific chondrogenic genes significantly increased in a fibrin scaffold compared with those of the control group. Moreover, the formation of chondrocyte cells on fibrin scaffold was confirmed. Fibrin scaffold was found suitable for condrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.