Significance
Many attempts have been made to repair the defects of articular cartilage, including mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based tissue engineering strategies. Optimizing MSC sources and their delivery approaches still remain clinically challenging. Recent studies determined that MSCs derived from synovium and synovial fluid exhibited superior chondrogenic potential. However, no feasible methods to harvest these human tissues and cells have been impeding them for clinical application. Hereby, we explored a simple and easy accessible approach to obtain a new stem cell source from arthroscopic flushing fluid (AFF-MSCs), which probably contains plenty of MSCs from synovium and synovial fluid. Further experiments demonstrated that encapsulation of these stem cells with one-step rapid cross-linked polyPEGDA/HA hydrogel held very encouraging potential for cartilage regeneration.
Statement of significance
Many attempts have been made to repair the defects of articular cartilage, including mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based tissue engineering strategies. Optimizing MSC sources and their delivery approaches still remain clinically challenging. Recent studies determined that MSCs derived from synovium and synovial fluid exhibited superior chondrogenic potential. However, no feasible methods to harvest these human tissues and cells have been impeding them for clinical application. Hereby, we explored a simple and easy accessible approach to obtain a new stem cell source from arthroscopic flushing fluid (AFF-MSCs), which probably contains plenty of MSCs from synovium and synovial fluid. Further experiments demonstrated that encapsulation of these stem cells with one-step rapid cross-linked polyPEGDA/HA hydrogel held very encouraging potential for cartilage regeneration.