Description
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recognized for their ability to differentiate into cells of different
tissues such as bone, cartilage, or adipose tissue, and therefore are of great interest for potential therapeutic strategies.
Adherent, colony-forming, fibroblastic cells were isolated from human bone marrow aspirates, from patients
undergoing knee arthroplasties, and the MSCs phenotype characterized by flow cytometry. Afterward, cells were
seeded onto electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber meshes and cultured in a multichamber flow perfusion bioreactor
to determine their ability to produce cartilagineous extracellular matrix. Results indicate that the flow perfusion
bioreactor increased the chondrogenic differentiation of hBM-MSCs, as confirmed either by morphological and
RT-PCR analysis. Cartilage-related genes such as aggrecan, collagen type II, and Sox9 were expressed. ECM
deposition was also detected by histological procedures. Collagen type II was present in the samples, as well as
collagen type I. Despite no statistically significant values being obtained for gene expression, the other results
support the choice of the bioreactor for this type of culture.
; Martins, A. 
