Influence of viscosity in the performance of hyaluronic acid as a vehicle injectable in cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells

• Grant number: 19/13670-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: André Capaldo Amaral
• Grantee: Graziela Francisca de Araújo Terciotti
• Host Institution: Universidade de Araraquara (UNIARA). Associação São Bento de Ensino. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biopolymer constituent of the extracellular matrix of various tissues of the human body, standing out in the constitution of the synovial fluid in the synovial joints. Currently, due to its biocompatibility, it has been used as a vehicle in injectable cell therapy, using autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSTs), for the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies of degenerative or traumatic origin. Up to now, promising preliminary therapeutic effects have been demonstrated, and research has been carried out to establish the cellular parameters capable of determining the best therapeutic results. However, the influence of the physical and chemical characteristics of HA on the administration and therapeutic efficacy of this injectable cellular therapy has not yet been investigated. Thus, this work aims to evaluate the influence of AH viscosity on cell viability, during the administration process, when used as a vehicle in cell therapy in injectable regenerative medicine. The project will be carried out in two stages, the first one will be the creation of a virtual model that allows the computational simulation of the influence of the viscosity of the AH on the mechanical stresses generated and the risks to the cellular viability during the administration. The second step will be to conduct in vitro analysis, using previously established parameters in a virtual environment, that will determine the real influence on the viability of adult human infrapatellar fat pad-derived stem cells (IPFP-ASCs). Such cells will be extracted from a volunteer by means of a knee arthroscopy procedure, isolated and expanded prior to performing the assays. With the understanding of the influence of this variable it will be possible to establish ideal parameters for the proper use of HA as a vehicle in injectable cellular therapy. (AU)