Adhesion of perichondrial cells to a polylactic acid scaffold.
The number of chondrogenic cells available locally is an important factor in the repair process for cartilage defects. Previous studies demonstrated that the number of transplanted rabbit perichondrial cells (PC) remaining in a cartilage defect in vivo, after being carried into the site in a polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold, declined markedly within two days. This study examined the ability of in vitro culture of PC/PLA constructs to enhance subsequent biomechanical stability of the cells and the matrix content in an in vitro screening assay. PC/PLA constructs were analyzed after 1 h, 1 and 2 weeks of culture. The biomechanical adherence of PC to the PLA scaffold was tested by subjecting the PC/PLA constructs to a range of flow velocities (0.25-25 mm/s), spanning the range estimated to occur under conditions of construct insertion in vivo. The adhesion of PC to the PLA carrier was increased significantly by 1 and 2 weeks of incubation, with 25 mm/s flow causing a 57% detachment of cells after 1 h of seeding, but only 7% and 16% after 1 and 2 weeks of culture, respectively (p<0.001). This adherence was associated with marked deposition of glycosaminoglycan and collagen. These findings suggest that pre-incubation of PC-laden PLA scaffolds markedly enhances the stability of the indwelling cells.
Giurea
Alexander
A
Department of Bioengineering and Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0412, USA.
Klein
Travis J
TJ
Chen
Albert C
AC
Goomer
Randal S
RS
Coutts
Richard D
RD
Akeson
Wayne H
WH
Amiel
David
D
Sah
Robert L
RL
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010477:Perfusion; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D003094:Collagen