HR007: a family of biomaterials based on glycosaminoglycans for tissue repair

Most new advances in tissue engineering (TE) focus on the creation of adequate microenvironments that may accelerate the repair processes of damaged tissues. Extracellular matrix (ECM) of Wharton's jelly (WJ) from umbilical cords is very rich in sulphated GAGs (sGAGs) and hyaluronic acid (HA), components which have special properties that could positively influence the regeneration of several types of tissue. Previously, we described the methodology for the extraction and purification of GAGs from WJ and, importantly, the separation of sGAGs and HA to develop various scaffolds for regenerative medicine. In this new study we hypothesized that the biomaterials obtained, called HR007s, would be excellent candidates for two different applications, chondral and dermal repair. First, we have confirmed that the GAGs obtained are biocompatible, as they do not cause cytotoxicity, haemolysis or an inflammatory response. Second, we have developed three-dimensional (3D) structures through the combination of different ratios of GAGs and their subsequent stabilization, which can be properly adapted to target tissues, cartilage or skin. Finally, we have combined these scaffolds with adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) or fibroblasts for application to chondral or dermal defects, respectively, with the goal of promoting fast reparative processes. The results show that HR007 scaffolds induce cell proliferation, enhance the expression of specific gene markers, increase the production of tissue ECM proteins and have chemotactic effects over the studied cells. In summary, the bioactive properties of HR007 scaffolds make them promising candidates for use in regenerative medicine, at least for chondral and dermal repair. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.