Chondrogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells within nanocaged POSS-PCU scaffolds: a new tool for nanomedicine.

Scaffold cellularization for cartilage engineering can aid implant properties, their retention and minimize repeated intervention, particularly in paediatric reconstructive craniofacial surgery. We developed novel bionanoscaffolds using paediatric adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs), an accessible autologous cell source, and POSS-PCU. Little is known about cellular responses to this nanomaterial, though it was used in human. We assessed: 1) POSS-PCU cellularization and bioaffinity to hADSCs; 2) hADSC chondrogenic differentiation ability in POSS-PCU; 3) whether bionanoscaffolds became encased within a vascular network and/or vascularised. POSS-PCU supported ADSC survival and proliferation and their migration and differentiation into cartilage within the nanoscaffold. Furthermore, after CAM-grafting, bionanoscaffolds were rapidly surrounded by blood vessels without any apparent negative reaction and erythrocytes of host origin were detected inside the scaffold, suggesting invasion from some capillaries. Altogether, this study demonstrates that POSS-PCU displays excellent bioactivity and hADSC/POSS-PCU bionanoscaffolds offer much promise for autologous cell-based tissue engineering for clinical applications. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study, human adipose tissue derived stem cells were used in combination with POSS-PCU nanoscaffolds to generate cartilage tissue demonstrating excellent bioactivity for autologous cell-based tissue engineering for clinical applications.