Modular microgel-based bioassembly scaffold induced chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Bioactive scaffolds capable of simultaneously repairing osteochondral defects remain a big challenge due to the heterogeneity of bone and cartilage. Currently modular microgel-based bioassembly scaffolds are emerged as potential solution to this challenge. Here, microgels based on methacrylic anhydride and dopamine modified gelatin (GelMA-DA) were loaded with chondroitin sulfate (the obtained microgel named GC Ms) or bioactive glass (the obtained microgel named GB Ms), respectively. GC Ms and GB Ms showed good biocompatibility with BMSCs, which suggested by the adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs on their surfaces. Specially, GC Ms promoted chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs, while GB Ms promoted osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the injectable GC Ms and GB Ms were assembled integrally by bottom-up in situ crosslinking to obtain modular microgel-based bioassembly scaffold (GC-GB/HM), which showed a distinct bilayer structure and good porous properties and swelling properties. Particularly, the results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that GC-GB/HM could simultaneously regulate the expression levels of chondrogenic- and osteogenesis-related genes and proteins. Therefore, modular microgel-based assembly scaffold in this work with the ability to promote bidirectional differentiation of BMSCs and has great potential for application in the minimally invasive treatment of osteochondral tissue defects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.