[Tissue engineering applications: cartilage lesions repair by the use of autologous chondrocytes].
Promising new therapies based on tissue engineering have been recently developed for cartilage repair. The association of biomaterials with autologous chondrocytes expanded in vitro can represent a useful tool to regenerate this tissue. The scaffolds utilised in such therapeutical applications should provide a pre-formed three-dimensional shape, prevent cells from floating out of the defect, have sufficient mechanical strength, facilitate uniform spread of cells and stimulate the phenotype of transplanted cells. Hyaff-11 is a hyaluronic-acid based biodegradable polymer, that has been shown to provide successful cell carrier for tissue-engineered repair. From our findings we can state that human chondrocytes seeded on Hyaff-11 are able to maintain in vitro the characteristic of differentiated cells, expressing and producing collagen type II and aggrecan which are the main markers of cartilage phenotype, down-regulating collagen type I. Moreover, it seems to be a useful scaffold for cartilage repair both in animal models and clinical trials in humans, favouring the formation of a hyaline-like tissue. In the light of these data, we can hypothesise, for the future, the use of autologous chondrocyte transplantation together with gene therapy as a treatment for rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Grigolo
B
B
Laboratorio di Immunologia e Genetica Istituto di Ricerca Codivilla Putti, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Bologna, Italia. labimge@alma.unibo.it.
Roseti
L
L
Fiorini
M
M
De Franceschi
L
L
Facchini
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials