Application of Magnetic Cryopreservation Technique for the Development of Drug-Containing Silk Fibroin Scaffolds in DPSC-Based Cartilage Repair of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is currently the common disease in the elder, however, the repair of articular cartilage is still difficult clinically. Various strategies was applied in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is focused on the dental pulp stem cell-based cartilage repair. In tissue engineering, stem cells were usually cultured on biomaterials for implantation. In this study, we proposed a chondrogenesis-promoting drug-containing silk fibroin as the scaffold for stem cells. Moreover, the magnetic cryopreserveation technique will be applied in the formation of the vitrificated cell/drug/fibroin complex for the long-term storage. The vitrificated complex will be useful clinically. For example, the scaffold could be simply thawed for implantation before clinical operation, preventing the complex process in cell culture and scaffold preparation. On the other hand, the signaling mechanism of chondrogenesis-promoting flavonoids will be evaluated. In addition, the rabbit animal model will be applied for the evaluation of this cell/flavonoid/fibroin complex in vivo in the healing of articular cartilage. This study is helpful for basic and clinical studies.