[The experimental study of tissue engineered autologous cartilage using chitosan-gelatin complex scaffolds].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether man-made porous chitosan-gelatin complex scaffold was a appropriate scaffold for tissue engineering cartilage.


METHODS
Chondrocytes isolated from Changfeng crossbred swines' auricular cartilage were seeded onto chitosan- gelatin scaffolds to be cultured in a three dimensional environment. The chondrocyte- polymer constructs were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the swines' abdomenal wall. Specimens were harvested and analyzed by gross observation, histology, type II collagen immunohistochemistry and biochemistry after 10 and 16 weeks in vivo respectively.


RESULTS
H.E staining showed cartilage was formed, and chondrocytes were enclosed in lacuna with histological characteristics similar to natural cartilage. Some clusters of neocartilage surrounded by fibrous tissues were observed. Elastic fibres were observed in the mesenchyma of cartilage 16 weeks after by Vehoeff's staining. Immunohistochemical staining of the neocartilage with anti- type II collagen showed the presence of type II collagen in the ECM of tissue engineered cartilage. The proteoglycans content in tissue engineered cartilage was close to that of natural swine's auricular cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
The experiments demonstrated that using chitosan-gelatin complex scaffold we can generate autologous cartilage on animals with normal immune system. Porous chitosan- gelatin complex scaffolds may be a suitable scaffolds for tissue engineered cartilage.
Xia
Wan-yao
WY
Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Liu
Wei
W
Cui
Lei
L
Shang
Qing-xin
QX
Liu
Yan-chun
YC
Zhong
Wei
W
Cao
Yi-lin
YL
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology*; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D048271:Chitosan; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D008297:Male; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D024043:Collagen Type II; D011509:Proteoglycans; D002686:Chitin; D005780:Gelatin; D048271:Chitosan