AUTHOR=Zhang Hanyuan , Fang Weijun , Zhao Tingting , Zhang Huabing , Gao Liang , Li Jingya , Wang Rujing , Xu Weiping 

TITLE=Real-Time MRI Monitoring of GelMA-Based Hydrogel-Loaded Kartogenin for In Situ Cartilage Regeneration

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.940735

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.940735

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=The cartilage has poor ability to mount a sufficient healing response. Herein, kartogenin (KGN), an emerging stable nonprotein compound was grafted to resulting dopamine nanoparticles based on Fe (III) complexation, and followed by integrating into injectable hydrogels with tunable stiffness to obtain a desirable and simulating microenvironment that protected and promoted the growth of bone marrow mesenchyme stem cells (BMSCs). The in vitro results demonstrated that the KGN undergone long-term sustained release behavior and availably promoted the deep migration of BMSC cells in yielding hydrogels. And in vivo results showed that cartilage defect obtained significant regeneration post operation in 12th week, and the defect edge almost disappeared compared to adjacent normal cartilage tissue. Meanwhile, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) property resulting from dissociative Fe (III) can significantly monitor the degradation degree of the implanted hydrogels in the defect site. This integrated diagnosis and treatment system gives insight cartilage regeneration.