The effect of temporal manipulation of transforming growth factor beta 3 and fibroblast growth factor 2 on the derivation of proliferative chondrocytes from mensenchymal stem cells-A study monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and molecular beacon based nanosensors.

Proliferative chondrocytes are critical to realize regeneration of damaged epiphyseal growth plate. However, acquiring autologous replacement cells involves highly invasive procedures and often results in limited cell quantity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential source of chondrogenic cells for the treatment of cartilage disorders and injuries. The temporal effect of transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on the derivation of proliferative chondrocytes from MSCs in three-dimensional agarose was investigated by manipulating the duration of TGFβ3 and FGF2 treatment. The differentiation process was monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) as well as nanosensors containing two molecular beacons that target critical biomarkers for proliferative chondrocytes (i.e., collagen type-II messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] and Ki67 mRNA). The molecular beacon-based nanosensors were found to be comparable to qRT-PCR in measuring mRNA expression and thus providing a noninvasive mean to screen and monitor culture samples. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 895-904, 2018.