Scaffold-Free Engineering of Human Cartilage Implants.
Cartilage
; 13(1_suppl): 1237S-1249S, 2021 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33858229
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Despite new strategies in tissue engineering, cartilage repair remains a major challenge. Our aim is to treat patients with focal lesions of articular cartilage with autologous hyaline cartilage implants using a scaffold-free approach. In this article, we describe experiments to optimize production of scaffold-free cartilage discs.DESIGN:
Articular chondrocytes were expanded in vitro, seeded in transwell inserts and redifferentiated using established chondrogenic components. Experimental variables included testing 2 different expansion media, adding bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), growth/differentiation factor 5 (GDF5), or fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) to the differentiation medium and allowing the disc to float freely in large wells. Cartilage discs were analyzed by weight and thickness, real-time RT-qPCR (reverse transcriptase qualitative polymerase chain reaction), fluorescence immunostaining, transmission electron microscopy, second harmonic generation imaging, and measurement of Young's modulus.RESULTS:
Addition of BMP2 to the chondrogenic differentiation medium (CDM) was essential for stable disc formation, while IGF1, GDF5, and FGF18 were redundant. Allowing discs to float freely in CDM on a moving platform increased disc thickness compared with discs kept continuously in transwell inserts. Discs cultured for 6 weeks reached a thickness of almost 2 mm and Young's modulus of >200 kPa. There was abundant type II collagen. Collagen fibrils were 25 nm thick, with a tendency to be organized perpendicular to the disc surface.CONCLUSION:
Scaffold-free engineering using BMP2 and providing free movement in CDM produced firm, elastic cartilage discs with abundant type II collagen. This approach may potentially be used in clinical trials.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cartilagem Articular
/
Condrócitos
/
Engenharia Tecidual
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article