Performance of different three-dimensional scaffolds for in vivo endochondral bone generation.

In the context of skeletal tissue development and repair, endochondral ossification has inspired a new approach to regenerate bone tissue in vivo using a cartilage intermediate as an osteoinductive template. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regard to in vitro cartilage formation and in vivo bone regeneration when combined with different three-dimensional (3D) scaffold materials, i.e., hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) composite block, polyurethane (PU) foam, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) electrospun fibers (PLGA/PCL) and collagen I gel. To this end, rat MSCs were seeded on these scaffolds and chondrogenically differentiated in vitro for 4 weeks followed by in vivo subcutaneous implantation for 8 weeks. Nonetheless, the quality and maturity of in vivo ectopic bone formation appeared to be scaffold/material-dependent. Eight weeks of implantation was not sufficient to ossify the entire PLGA/PCL constructs, albeit a comprehensive remodeling of the cartilage had occurred. For HA/TCP, PU and collagen I scaffolds, more mature bone formation with rich vascularity and marrow stroma development could be observed. These data suggest that chondrogenic priming of MSCs in the presence of different scaffold materials allows the establishment of reliable templates for generating functional endochondral bone tissue in vivo without using osteoinductive growth factors. The morphology and maturity of bone formation.

Dextran-tryamine hydrogel maintains position and integrity under simulated loading in a human cadaver knee model.

Objective: This dextran-tyramine hydrogel is a novel cartilage repair technique, filling focal cartilage defects to provide a cell-free scaffold for subsequent cartilage repair. We aim to asses this techniques' operative feasibility in the knee joint and its ability to maintain position and integrity under expected loading conditions. Method: Seven fresh-frozen human cadaver legs (age range 55-88) were used to create 30 cartilage defects on the medial and lateral femoral condyles dependent of cartilage quality, starting with 1.0 â€‹cm2; augmenting to 1.5 â€‹cm2 and eventually 2.0 â€‹cm2. The defects were operatively filled with the injectable hydrogel scaffold. The knees were subsequently placed on a continues passive motion machine for 30 â€‹min of non-load bearing movement, mimicking post-operative rehabilitation. High resolution digital photographs documented the hydrogel scaffold after placement and directly after movement. Three independent observers blinded for the moment compared the photographs on outline attachment, area coverage and hydrogel integrity. Results: The operative procedure was uncomplicated in all defects, application of the hydrogel was straightforward and comparable to common cartilage repair techniques. No macroscopic iatrogenic damage was observed. The hydrogel scaffold remained predominately unchanged after non-load bearing movement. Outline attachment, area coverage and hydrogel integrity were unaffected in 87%, 93% and 83% of defects respectively. Larger defects appear to be more affected than smaller defects, although not statistically significant (p â€‹> â€‹0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show operative feasibility of this cell-free hydrogel scaffold for chondral defects of the knee joint. Sustained outline attachment, area coverage and hydrogel integrity were observed after non-load bearing knee movement.