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Development of a co-culture device for the study of human tenocytes in response to the combined stimulation of electric field and platelet rich plasma (PRP)

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Abstract

One of the objectives of rotator cuff repairs is to achieve biological healing and recovery in the tendon-bone zone. Some clinical evaluations reported the feasibility of tendon healing based on the stimulations of electric field and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). However, because of lack of appropriate tool for in vitro primary culture under complicated conditions, the efficacy and standard protocol of these healing approaches are still controversial among clinical experts. In this study, a novel co-culture device was developed for the study of tenocytes proliferation under single and combined stimulations of electric field and PRP. The device was a culture well divided into three sub-chambers separated by a barrier and embedded with a pair of parallel plate electrodes. Tenocytes and PRP gel could be respectively loaded into the sub-chambers and cultured with interlinked medium. Hence, tenocytes could concurrently receive a uniform electric field and platelet-derived growth factors by diffusion. Results revealed that the proliferation of tenocytes could be significantly enhanced by these stimulations. The device provides a precise and practical approach for the in vitro study of tendon healing, especially for PRP study. Moreover, optimization of the conditions of electric field and PRP could be determined by in vitro screening procedure before surgery to provide a personalized therapy.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank for Mr. Yuan-Sheng Chen for his technical support. This study was supported by Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (Project no. CMRPG5F0031 and BMRPC05).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bone and Joint Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chih-Hao Chiu

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chih-Hao Chiu

  3. PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chih-Hao Chiu

  4. Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Kin Fong Lei

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Kin Fong Lei

  6. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Wen-Ling Yeh

  7. Musculoskeletal Research Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Wen-Ling Yeh

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  1. Chih-Hao Chiu
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  2. Kin Fong Lei
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Correspondence to Kin Fong Lei or Wen-Ling Yeh.

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Chiu, CH., Lei, K.F. & Yeh, WL. Development of a co-culture device for the study of human tenocytes in response to the combined stimulation of electric field and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Biomed Microdevices 19, 69 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-017-0214-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-017-0214-z

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