Comparative repair capacity of knee osteochondral defects using regenerated silk fiber scaffolds and fibrin glue with/without autologous chondrocytes during 36 weeks in rabbit model

Abstract

The reconstruction capability of osteochondral (OCD) defects using silk-based scaffolds has been demonstrated in a few studies. However, improvement in the mechanical properties of natural scaffolds is still challengeable. Here, we investigate the in vivo repair capacity of OCD defects using a novel Bombyx mori silk-based composite scaffold with great mechanical properties and porosity during 36 weeks. After evaluation of the in vivo biocompatibility and degradation rate of these scaffolds, we examined the effectiveness of these fabricated scaffolds accompanied with/without autologous chondrocytes in the repair of OCD lesions of rabbit knees after 12 and 36 weeks. Moreover, the efficiency of these scaffolds was compared with fibrin glue (FG) as a natural carrier of chondrocytes using parallel clinical, histopathological and mechanical examinations. The data on subcutaneous implantation in mice showed that the designed scaffolds have a suitable in vivo degradation rate and regenerative capacity. The repair ability of chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds was typically higher than the scaffolds alone. After 36 weeks of implantation, most parts of the defects reconstructed by chondrocytes-seeded silk scaffolds (SFC) were hyaline-like cartilage. However, spontaneous healing and filling with a scaffold alone did not eventuate in typical repair. We could not find significant differences between quantitative histopathological and mechanical data of SFC and FGC. The fabricated constructs consisting of regenerated silk fiber scaffolds and chondrocytes are safe and suitable for in vivo repair of OCD defects and promising for future clinical trial studies.

Bombyx mori derived scaffolds and their use in cartilage regeneration: a systematic review

“…For in vivo evaluation of silk scaffolds, Deng observed improved cartilage regeneration capability of SF/CS scaffolds seeded with BMSC's rather than scaffolds alone 84 . Similar results were obtained by Kazemnejad, where Scaffolds seeded with chondrocytes gave better results than scaffolds alone 85 . The study conducted by Zeng also confirmed the approach of seeding scaffolds with cells where NP cells with silk scaffolds were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.…”

Synergistic interaction of hTGF-β3 with hBMP-6 promotes articular cartilage formation in chitosan scaffolds with hADSCs: implications for regenerative medicine

“…Building on previous results for the interaction of TGF-β with chitosan, we aim to investigate whether combinations with other TGF-β superfamily members, specifically hBMP-6, increases articular cartilage formation potential as compared to the effect of TGF-β 3 used alone or in combination with IGF-I. TGF-β 3 has been described in various studies to promote cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage differentiation, upregulating the expression of genes typical for the formation of cartilage in hADSCs [33,35]. The same genes, however, are activated in growth plate chondrocytes when endochondral ossification ensues.…”

Induction of Articular Chondrogenesis by Chitosan/Hyaluronic-Acid-Based Biomimetic Matrices Using Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

“…They support the relevant ECM deposition and stratification, with improved cellular attachment, proliferation, differentiation to the desired phenotype, and integration into the corresponding bone or cartilage defect sites [28,29]. In cartilage-based tissue regeneration, various natural polymers exist, including synthetic alternatives that have been investigated to help in cartilage reformation such as compositions of fiber proteins (collagen, fibrin) [30,31], porous sponge polysaccharides (agarose, alginate, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan) [32,33,34,35], and synthetic hydrogel polymers (polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid) [36,37]. Although synthetic materials allow better control of mechanical, morphological, and physicochemical properties, they more often cause a substantial inflammatory response in vivo than natural materials [38,39].…”