Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a porcine epiphyseal plate-derived extracellular matrix powder (PEPEP) for epiphyseal plate regeneration. PEPEP was characterized by chemical assay to determine the contents of DNA and epiphyseal plate complex chemical components (glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline). The effects of PEPEP on the viability, proliferation, and differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were also evaluated. hBMSCs cultured in PEPEP exhibited a good distribution with excellent viability after 72 h, demonstrating the ability of PEPEP to support hBMSC proliferation. At week 4 and 6 in vitro, the PEPEP + hBMSCs structure showed chondrogenic ability and an increase in expression of collagen type I, type II, and type X. PEPEP showed a promising ability to enhance cartilage formation and promote chondrocyte differentiation, maturation, and hypertrophy. The results provide insights into the feasibility of PEPEP as a potential material for tissue engineering applications.