Preparation and characterization of the collagen/cellulose nanocrystals/USPIO scaffolds loaded kartogenin for cartilage regeneration

Abstract The regeneration of cartilage is a challenging problem for lack of innate abilities to mount a sufficient healing response. Kartogenin (KGN), an emerging chondroinductive non-protein small molecule, bound to the surface of the ultrasmall super-paramagnetic iron-oxide (USPIO) by innovational one-step technology, followed by being incorporated into the cross-linking collagen/cellulose nanocrystals (Col/CNC) bioactive scaffolds to stimulate an appropriate microenvironment for the growth and differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), thus facilitating the formation of chondrocyte. Herein, USPIO not only served as a carrier for small molecule drugs, but also as MRI contrast agents, which can non-invasively monitor the degradation of the scaffolds and the self-repair capacity of cartilage. In vitro studies showed that the KGN could release from the composite scaffolds in a sustained and stable manner and promote the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs based on UV spectrophotometry test, and specific markers analysis. Of note, USPIO labeled composite scaffolds retained their stability without loss of relaxation rate the composite scaffolds can be a promising biomaterials for cartilage repair, with the function of noninvasive visualization and semiquantitative analysis of scaffolds degradation and neocartilage.