In vitro generation of osteochondral composites.
Osteochondral repair involves the regeneration of articular cartilage and underlying bone, and the development of a well-defined tissue-to-tissue interface. We investigated tissue engineering of three-dimensional cartilage/bone composites based on biodegradable polymer scaffolds, chondrogenic and osteogenic cells. Cartilage constructs were created by cultivating primary bovine calf articular chondrocytes on polyglycolic acid meshes; bone-like constructs were created by cultivating expanded bovine calf periosteal cells on foams made of a blend of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid and polyethylene glycol. Pairs of constructs were sutured together after 1 or 4 weeks of isolated culture, and the resulting composites were cultured for an additional 4 weeks. All composites were structurally stable and consisted of well-defined cartilaginous and bone-like tissues. The fraction of glycosaminoglycan in the cartilaginous regions increased with time, both in isolated and composite cultures. In contrast, the mineralization in bone-like regions increased during isolated culture, but remained approximately constant during the subsequent composite culture. The integration at the cartilage/bone interface was generally better for composites consisting of immature (1-week) than mature (4-week) constructs. This study demonstrates that osteochondral tissue composites for potential use in osteochondral repair can be engineered in vitro by culturing mammalian chondrocytes and periosteal cells on appropriate polymer scaffolds.
Schaefer
D
D
Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
Martin
I
I
Shastri
P
P
Padera
R F
RF
Langer
R
R
Freed
L E
LE
Vunjak-Novakovic
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002358:Cartilage, Articular; D002417:Cattle; D003188:Composite Resins; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003188:Composite Resins