Abstract
Recent studies have reported that stem cells (human follicular fluid mesenchymal stem cells or hFF-MSCs) are present in ovarian follicular fluid (hFF) and that they have a proliferative and differentiative potential which is similar to that of MSCs derived from other adult tissue. These mesenchymal stem cells, isolated from human follicular fluid waste matter discarded after retrieval of oocytes during the IVF process, constitute another, as yet unutilized, source of stem cell materials. There has been little work on the compatibility of these hFF-MSCs with scaffolds useful for bone tissue engineering applications and the aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic capacity of hFF-MSCs seeded on bioglass 58S-coated titanium and to provide an assessment of their suitability for bone tissue engineering purposes. Following a chemical and morphological characterization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), cell viability, morphology and expression of specific osteogenic markers were examined after 7 and 21 days of culture. The hFF-MSCs seeded on bioglass and cultured with osteogenic factors, when compared with those seeded on tissue culture plate or on uncoated titanium, exhibited enhanced cell viability and osteogenic differentiation, as reflected by increased calcium deposition and increased ALP activity with expression and production of bone-related proteins. Taken together, these results demonstrate that MSCs from human follicular fluid waste materials can be easily cultured in titanium scaffolds coated with bioglass, having osteoinductive properties. This process has significant potential for regenerative medicine applications and indicates that hFF-MSCs may be a valid alternative to hBM-MSC cells in experimental models in bone tissue engineering.