UNASSIGNED: Degeneration of @entity1798 ( @entity1798 ) results in an overall alteration of the biomechanics of the spinal column and becomes a major cause of @entity1643 . In this study, an injectable hydrogel composite is fabricated and characterized as a potential scaffold for the treatment of degenerated @entity1798 . Crosslinking of type II collagen-hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with @entity12259 (EDC) increases the gel stability against collagenase digestion and reduces water uptake in comparison with non-crosslinked gel. Cell viability assay exhibits the proliferation of @entity1 nucleus pulposus (HNP) cells in hydrogels. The cells in non-crosslinked gel and the gel crosslinked with a low concentration of EDC (0.1 mM) show superior cell viability and morphology compared with cells in gels crosslinked with higher concentration of EDC. Quantitative PCR assay demonstrates the gene expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) by cells cultured in the gels. The expression of ECM genes by HNP cells in the gels demonstrated the phenotypic change of the cells. This study suggests that the type II collagen-HA hydrogel and crosslinked hydrogel (0.1 mM EDC) are permissive matrix for the growth of HNP cells and can be potentially applied in NP repair. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Injectable hydrogel provides growth-permissive environment for XXXX nucleus pulposus cells.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity1643 :: ('MESH:D017116', 'Disease') :: ['low back pain'] @entity1798 :: ('MESH:C535531', 'Disease') :: ['intervertebral discs', 'IVDs'] @entity12259 :: ('MESH:D005022', 'Chemical') :: ['1-ethyl-3 (3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
