Dejeneratif Kıkırdak Hasarlarına Yönelik Enjekte Edilebilir Hidrojel Sistemlerinin Geliştirilmesi ve Karakterizasyonu

Abstract

Cartilage degeneration is a pathology that develops over time, beginning with the softening of the cartilaginous gland and then completely disappearing. It may be due to trauma, as well as diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity. Although it is not known exactly how the disease has begun, it is thought that genetic factors play a role likewise many diseases. In degenerative cartilage, most of the extracellular matrix content is degraded, which causes the joint cartilage to lose its elasticity, viscosity, lubrication and durability. The proposed thesis is designed for cartilage regeneration with hydrogels containing nanoparticles containing microRNAs that inhibit cartilage degradation. The hydrogels developed in the thesis were formed from methacrylated chondroitin sulphate and gelatin to mimic articular cartilage extracellular matrix and nanoparticles carrying microRNA 149-5p were formed with hyaluronic acid and chitosan, which are commonly used in cartilage degeneration treatments. With the optimizations performed, the hydrogels are formed into the injectable form and the physical and chemical characterization of the nanoparticles and hydrogels is completed. The ability of nanoparticles for gene transfection and the effect of hydrogel and nanoparticles on chondrogenesis were tested on human mesenchymal stem cells and demonstrated by cytotoxicity tests, proliferation analysis, cytological stainings and gene expression analysis.