Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: Scaffold-Based Solutions

Abstract

Autologous chondrocyte implantation is a surgical technique utilized for repair of articular cartilage defects. The originally described technique for autologous chondrocyte implantation involves applying a liquid suspension of the cultured chondrocytes to a cartilage defect and sealing the defect with a periosteum or collagen patch. Scaffolds for housing chondrocytes were introduced to allow for increased ease of delivery and application, to avoid leakage of chondrocytes out of the defect, and to allow for an implant that more closely mimics the non-uniform tissue architecture of healthy articular cartilage. In this chapter we describe the design, clinical outcomes, and commercial availability of various scaffolds reported in the clinical literature for autologous chondrocyte implantation.

Anatomy, molecular structures, and hyaluronic acid – Gelatin injectable hydrogels as a therapeutic alternative for hyaline cartilage recovery: A review

“…The use of scaffolds may enhance ACI, as these 3D structures play a pivotal role in regulation of mechanical loads that cells receive, affecting their proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of the chondrocytic phenotype. Scaffolds act as temporal ECM until cells proliferate and start to synthetize characteristic molecules of the tissue 59 . Scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering are a challenge, because finding a biomimetic material with similar molecular properties to hyaline cartilage has proved to be difficult.…”

“…Scaffolds act as temporal ECM until cells proliferate and start to synthetize characteristic molecules of the tissue. 59 Scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering are a challenge, because finding a biomimetic material with similar molecular properties to hyaline cartilage has proved to be difficult. Accordingly, several studies have focused on the development of biocompatible matrices mainly composed by collagen and GAGs, as they represent 95% of ECM 1.…”

Chasing the Paradigm: Clinical Translation of 25 Years of Tissue Engineering

“…31,33,34 This is another facet of the tissue-engineering approach where cell phenotype and functional recovery can be improved through the use of three-dimensional (3D) materials compared to two-dimensional culture alone. 35,36 In this approach, the FDA approved processes include autologous cells and an in vitro cultured device-opening the door for future adaptions of these methods.…”

Utility of direct 3D co-culture model for chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on hyaluronan scaffold (Hyaff-11)

“…The ideal scaffold should degrade and resorb at a rate corresponding to tissue growth, thereby defining the shape and function of the assimilated tissue structure and should maintain the chondrogenic phenotype of the cells [ 9 ]. The most popular 3D structures are made of natural biodegradable materials such as collagen, fibrinogen or hyaluronic acid [ 10 ]. The collagen scaffold is commonly used in articular cartilage repair, because it provides suitable conditions for chondrocyte differentiation [ 7 , 11 ].…”

“…The collagen scaffold is commonly used in articular cartilage repair, because it provides suitable conditions for chondrocyte differentiation [ 7 , 11 ]. Moreover, type II collagen and proteoglycans are main components of the articular cartilage extracellular matrix, which maintains the chondrocyte phenotype [ 10–13 ]. The second component of the articular cartilage is hyaluronic acid [ 13 ].…”