(586e) Development of Icariin-Loaded Scaffold for Cartilage Tissue Engineering By 3D Bioprinting

Articular cartilage plays an important role in weight-bearing and movement. However, it is also more easily damaged in intra-articular fractures. The cartilage is hardly to repair itself once damaged seriously, since it has no vessel and nerve. Tissue engineering is a potential way to cure the cartilage damage, and the alginate gels, which have been proved that it can provide the environment of extracellular matrix, are commonly used as the base materials for 3D bio-printer. The printed channels and structures of the scaffolds are suitable for cells to adhesion and proliferation, which also ensures cells to handle nutrient uptake and waste disposal. Icariin, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been demonstrated to be a promoting compound for extracellular matrix synthesis and gene expression of chondrocytes, was incorporated with gels and cells to construct Icariin-loaded bioscaffolds by 3D bioprinting. The scaffold morphologies were observed under the light and electron microscopes. Cell distribution, viability and proliferation were investigated and evaluated by Fluorescence Microscope, Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope and CCK-8 assay kit. The content of Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) released and Type II collagen secretion were determined by dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) dye-binding assay and Rat Collagen Type II ELISA kit.