Synthesis and biological evaluation of a bioinspired, tissue-adhesive gellan gum-based hydrogel designed for minimally invasive delivery and retention of chondrogenic cells

A dopamine-modified, bioinspired gellan gum hydrogel (STM-148B) with improved physicochemical and biological characteristics, suitable for minimally invasive cell delivery and retention in the context of cartilage repair, is herein presented. STM-148B's putative game-changing design characteristics include a highly biocompatible, animal-free and chemically defined composition, reproducibility of manufacture and ease of formulation. STM-148B undergoes rapid ionic crossinking by physiologically relevant mono and divalent cations to form stable 3D hydrogels that possess excellent tissue adhesiveness, such that additional fixation aids are rendered superfluous. STM-148B hydrogels maintain viability of mammalian cells and further promote up-regulation of the expression of healthy chondrogenic extracellular matrix markers upon stimulation. STM-148B is currently undergoing pre-clinical safety and efficacy assessment as a medical device for cell delivery and retention focussing on regeneration of hyaline-like cartilage and may represent a valuable addition to the armamentarium of tissue-engineering therapies for treatment of focal cartilage lesions.