Co-delivery of NGF and BMP-2 via thermosensitive pluronic F127 hydrogel enhances chondrogenesis and cartilage repair

Sep 29, 2025Scientific reports

Combined delivery of growth factors using a temperature-sensitive gel improves cartilage growth and repair

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Regenerative Health on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Abstract

Co-delivery of nerve growth factor and bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a hydrogel significantly enhances chondrocyte and stem cell activity.

The thermosensitive hydrogel achieved high loading efficiency and sustained release of growth factors.
Cell proliferation and migration were significantly enhanced in chondrocytes and stem cells with co-delivery compared to single-factor treatments.
Chondrogenic markers were markedly upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels with the hydrogel treatment.
Increased glycosaminoglycan and DNA synthesis indicated enhanced matrix production and cellular activity.
The findings suggest a synergistic mechanism where nerve growth factor improves cell viability and bone morphogenetic protein-2 activates differentiation pathways.

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Cartilage defects are difficult to repair due to the tissue's avascular nature, low cell density, and limited regenerative capacity. Growth factor-based tissue engineering offers a promising strategy for enhancing cartilage regeneration. This study aimed to develop a synergistic and sustained dual-growth factor delivery system by co-loading nerve growth factor (NGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) into a Pluronic-F127 hydrogel, and to investigate its effects and underlying mechanisms in promoting chondrocyte regeneration and mesenchymal stem cell . A thermosensitive Pluronic-F127 hydrogel was prepared to encapsulate NGF and BMP-2. The loading efficiency and release kinetics of both growth factors were quantified. In vitro experiments were conducted to assess cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation using CCK-8 assays, scratch tests, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and matrix synthesis assays in human chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). The NGF/BMP-2@Pluronic-F127 hydrogel demonstrated high loading efficiency and sustained release of both factors. Co-delivery significantly enhanced proliferation and migration of chondrocytes and hBMSCs compared to single-factor or control treatments. Expression of chondrogenic markers (COL2A1, AGG, SOX9) was markedly upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, the hydrogel promoted glycosaminoglycan and DNA synthesis, indicating enhanced matrix production and cellular activity. These findings support a synergistic mechanism in which NGF improves cell viability and modulates the microenvironment, while BMP-2 activates chondrogenic signaling pathways to induce differentiation. The NGF/BMP-2@Pluronic-F127 co-delivery system offers a promising strategy for cartilage regeneration by integrating proliferative, migratory, and chondrogenic cues within a single hydrogel platform. This approach may help overcome the limitations of current treatments and improve outcomes in condylar cartilage defect repair.

Key numbers

2.82×

Increase in Expression

Comparison of expression in /@ group vs. control.

5.05 ± 0.28 µg/mL

GAG Synthesis Level

Measured GAG synthesis in /@ group.

2.25×

Increase in DNA Synthesis

Comparison of DNA synthesis in /@ group vs. control.

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Co-delivery of NGF and BMP-2 via thermosensitive pluronic F127 hydrogel enhances chondrogenesis and cartilage repair

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