Restoration of cartilage defects using a superparamagnetic iron oxide-labeled adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell and TGF-β3-loaded bilayer PLGA construct.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the capacity of the bilayer polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/TGF-β3/adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) construct used to repair cartilage defects and the role of ADSCs in the repair process in vivo. Materials & methods: Defects were created surgically on the femoropatellar groove of knee joints in 64 rabbits. All the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: defect group, PLGA group, PLGA/TGF-β3 group and PLGA/TGF-β3/ADSC group. In vivo MRI and Prussian blue staining were applied. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot methods were used to analyze the gene and protein expression. Results & conclusion: The result showed that TGF-β3 could effectively stimulate the expressions of aggrecan, collagen type II and SRY-related HMG box 9 (SOX9). The bilayer PLGA/TGF-β3/ADSC construct showed a promising repair effect.