A Novel Method to Induce Cartilage Regeneration with Cubic Microcartilage

Abstract

Cartilage tissue is characterized by its poor regenerative properties, and the clinical performance of cartilage grafts to replace cartilage defects has been unsatisfactory. Recently, cartilage regeneration with mature chondrocytes and stem cells has been developed and applied in clinical settings. However, there are challenges with the use of mature chondrocytes and stem cells for tissue regeneration, including the high costs associated with the standard stem cell isolation methods and the decreased cell viability due to cell manipulation. Previous studies demonstrated that cartilage can be regenerated from chondrocyte clusters that contain stem cells. Based upon some of the existing techniques, the goal of this study was to develop a novel and practical method to induce cartilage regeneration. A microslicer device was developed to process cartilage tissues into micron-size cartilage (microcartilage) in a minimally invasive manner. We evaluated microcartilage sizes and demonstrated 100-400 µm as optimal for generating a high cell yield with collagenase digestion. In addition, autologous intrafascial implantation of the composites of microcartilage and an absorbable scaffold with a slow-release system of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was carried out to induce cartilage regeneration. Our results demonstrated that the extent of bFGF diffusion depends on the size of microcartilage, and that cartilage regeneration was induced most effectively with 100 µm of microcartilage via SOX5 upregulation. These findings suggest that cartilage regeneration is possible with microcartilage as a source of cells without ex vivo cell expansion.

Ethanol treatment of nanoPGA/PCL composite scaffolds enhances human chondrocyte development in the cellular microenvironment of tissue-engineered auricle constructs

“…The depth of sedation was monitored by eyelash reflex of the animals and additional pentobarbital was administered until death was confirmed with loss of this reflex. Both left and right canine auricles were dissected and auricular cartilage was obtained by removing the skin, cutaneous tissue, muscle, and perichondrium from the ears of the three dogs [ 38 ]. Chondrocytes harvested from left and right auricular cartilage of each dog (~ 10 7 cells/ear) were pooled and the three pools of isolated cells were utilized separately for subsequent experiments.…”

Establishment of a new technique for the fabrication of regenerative cartilage with a microslicer device to prepare three dimensional diced cartilage

“…Nishiwaki et al reported the usefulness of cubic microcartilages for cartilage regeneration. Microcartilages prepared using a micro-slicer were applied to Polyglycolic Acid Mesh with basic-FGF-loaded gelatin microsphers (15). These reports suggest that diced cartilage could be a cell source for cartilage regeneration.…”

Chondrocytes Proliferation of Patients with Cartilage Lesions in Their Own Body for Use in Cartilage Tissue Engineering: Hypotheses on aNew Approach for the Proliferation of Autologous Chondrocytes

“…In this way, by reducing cell death, matrix secretion will be more effective to facilitate the process of integration with the surrounding tissue. Therefore, better repair occurs in sharp lesions [ 19 , 20 ]. Also, by strong shear laser, very delicate slices can be created.…”