Development of novel biomaterial for intervertebral disc repair

聚集素(Aggrecan)是椎间盘(IVD)的主要细胞外基质分子之一。硫酸结冷胶是一种多糖生物材料，其化学结构类似于糖胺聚糖。本研究的目的是(1)观察结冷胶硫酸盐(GS)对体外培养的牛椎间盘(IVD)细胞外基质代谢的影响；(2)探讨GS对兔IVD退变模型细胞外基质代谢的影响。GS(32%硫酸盐化率)对牛IVD细胞增殖和蛋白多糖合成有明显的刺激作用。椎管内注射可注射GS可显著抑制兔IVD退变模型的椎间隙高度狭窄。组织学分析表明，可注射GS具有较高的组织亲和力，并能增强兔IVD组织基质代谢的活性。

Aggrecan(large proteoglycan) is one of the main extracellular matrix molecules of intervertebral disc(IVD). Gellan sulfate is a polysaccharide-biomaterial, whose chemical structure is similar to glycosaminoglycan. The purpose of this study was(1) to examine the effect of gellan sulfate(GS) on the extracellular matrix metabolism of bovine intervertebral disc(IVD) cells in vitro and(2) to evaluate the effect of injectable-GS on the progression of IVD degeneration in the rabbit IVD degeneration model. GS(32% sulfation rate) significantly stimulated the cell proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis of bovine IVD cells. Intradiscal injection of injectable-GS significantly inhibited the progression of disc height narrowing in the rabbit IVD degeneration model. Histological analysis showed that the injectable-GS had a high tissue affinity and increased the activation of matrix metabolism of rabbit IVD tissue.