Effect of size of PLGA microsphere on proliferation and phenotype for human intervertebral disc cells

Abstract

The PLGA microspheres can create an environment conductive to promising candidate as an injectable system for tissue engineered intervertebral disc(IVD). The final goal of this study was to investigate the condition of PLGA microspheres as microcarriers for IVD cells. We prepared PLGA microspheres using oil-in-water(O/W) solvent evaporation method and investigated the size variation of the microspheres(180 similar to 425 mu m). Human disc cells were. used in a prospective study of attachment, proliferation, and gene expression within various size of PLGA microspheres. Mophology of cell attached on the microspheres was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cellular behavior in response to various size of PLGA microspheres was analyzed using MTT assay and reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). SEM showed that cells could be bridge between microspheres with elongated shapes. MTT assay revealed that the cells Could be attach, proliferate and spread on PLGA microspheres, in particular on the ones having size below 250 mu m. In RT-PCR results, we observed strongly specific gene expression of type collagen at more 250 pin microsphere. In conclusion, this result will be used to injectable system for disc regeneration.