The direction of human mesenchymal stem cells into the chondrogenic lineage is influenced by the features of hydrogel carriers

•The human mesenchymal stem cells displayed good viability in both the investigated hydrogels for the full time of the experiment, 28 days.•The investigated hydrogels have good potential to be used as cell carriers when transplanting hMSCs into degenerated human IVDs.•Hydromatrix® hydrogel appeared the more promising carrier for hMSCs in terms of cell viability, ECM production and differentiation of hMSCs into chondrocyte-like cells.

Low back pain is a major public health issue in the Western world, one main cause is believed to be intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. To halt/diminish IVD degeneration, cell therapy using different biomaterials e.g. hydrogels as cell carriers has been suggested. In this study, two different hydrogels were examined (in vitro) as potential cell carriers for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) intended for IVD transplantation. The aim was to investigate cell-survival and chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs when cultured in hydrogels Puramatrix® or Hydromatrix® and potential effects of stimulation with growth hormone (GH). hMSCs/hydrogel cultures were investigated for cell-viability, attachment, gene expression of chondrogenic markers SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). In both hydrogel types, hMSCs were viable for 28 days, expressed integrin β1 which indicates adhesion of hMSCs. Differentiation was observed into chondrocyte-like cells, in a higher extent in hMSCs/Hydromatrix® cultures when compared to hMSCs/Puramatrix® hydrogel cultures. Gene expression analyses of chondrogenic markers verified results. hMSCs/hydrogel cultures stimulated with GH displayed no significant effects on chondrogenesis.In conclusion, both hydrogels, especially Hydromatrix® was demonstrated as a promising cell carrier in vitro for hMSCs, when directed into chondrogenesis. This knowledge could be useful in biological approaches for regeneration of degenerated human IVDs.

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