Asma Sadat Vaziri

Visiting researcher

Embedding alginate-gelatin cell-laden microcapsules into a biomimetic in situ forming hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering

 

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Supervisor in Iran: Prof. Ebrahim Vasheghani-Farahani

Articular cartilage has no blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics. Therefore, its self-healing potential is limited in case of injury and might progress to degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) [1]. Biomimetic-based tissue engineering approaches are expected to be advantageous over current therapies. However, the efficiency and clinical development of these approaches remain a challenge [2]. In the present study, a tough and viscoelastic alginate based hydrogel loaded with free and microencapsulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) will be prepared to develop an in situ forming scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. This project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

[1] Im, G. Il. Tissue Engineering in Osteoarthritis: Current Status and Prospect of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy. BioDrugs 32, 183–192 (2018).

[2] Wei, W. et al. Advanced hydrogels for the repair of cartilage defects and regeneration. Bioact Mater 6, 998–1011 (2021).