A Biomechanical Analysis of an Engineered Cell-Scaffold Implant for Cartilage Repair

Abstract

This study evaluated the biomechanical and physical properties of newly formed cartilage engineered from isolated chondrocytes in combination with matrix components. Four groups of constructs were studied. Group A consisted of lyophilized articular cartilage chips mixed with a cell-fibrinogen solution and thrombin to obtain constructs made of fibrin glue, chondrocytes, and cartilage chips. Group B constructs were prepared using fibrin glue and cartilage chips without cells. Group C contained chondrocytes in fibrin glue without chips, and group D comprised constructs of fibrin glue alone. Specimens were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of nude mice for 9 weeks. At necropsy the specimens were examined grossly, physically, biomechanically, and histologically. The original, preimplantation mass of the constructs was retained only in experimental group A. Histological analysis of specimens in experimental groups A and C demonstrated the presence of newly formed cartilaginous matrix, whereas only fibrotic tissue was observed in control groups B and D. Biomechanical analysis demonstrated higher mean values of equilibrium modulus in the experimental samples of group A with respect to all control groups. This study demonstrated that adding lyophilized cartilage chips to a fibrin glue-engineered cartilage construct maintains the biomechanical properties and the original mass after medium-/long-term in vivo transplantation.

Autologous cartilage fragments in a composite scaffold for one stage osteochondral repair in a goat model

“…The fibrin glue can therefore be considered as a wrapping material for the cartilage chips and a bridging material between the HA-felt and the PRFM. As shown in other in vivo studies (Deponti et al, 2012;Lewis et al, 2009;Peretti et al, 2006;Peretti et al, 2001;Peretti et al, 2000), we did not observe any major inflammatory reactions in animal models, supporting the use of fibrin glue as a component of the scaffold.…”

“…Following previous evidence from preclinical animal models of trochlear defects in rabbits (Madry et al, 2005;Marmotti et al, 2012;Ueblacker et al, 2007), goats (Lu et al, 2006), pigs (Peretti et al, 2006), and horses (Frisbie et al, 2009), critically-sized trochlear osteochondral lesions were created to avoid spontaneous healing of smaller defects, as previously shown by Jackson and Ahern (Jackson et al, 2001;Ahern et al, 2009). This site has been widely used in the literature, and represents a valuable preclinical model being subjected both to shear forces, that may negatively influence the reparative process, and to compressive load during the stance and gait of animals, which have a prevalent flexed position of the stifle joint.…”

Tissue‐engineered allograft tracheal cartilage using fibrin/hyaluronan composite gel and its in vivo implantation

“…Fibronectin is an essential protein in the cartilage matrix for chondrocytes-ECM interaction, however, the weak mechanical properties and early degradation of fibrin have been problematic. 29 HA is a key component in cartilage ECM with high hydrophilicity and molecular weight. It binds to aggrecan, an assembly of large aggregating proteoglycans, and to the chondrocyte surface receptor CD44.…”

Biodegradable Cell-Seeded Nanofiber Scaffolds for Neural Repair

“…In addition to potential uses in cartilage repair [148], wound healing and drug delivery [149], electrospun fibrinogen fibers can also be used in tissue engineering scaffolds [150].…”