Characteristics of tissue-engineered cartilage on macroporous biodegradable PLGA scaffold.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to establish in vivo culture of chondrocytes on biodegradable, poly-D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffolds and to analyze the characteristics of the reconstructed cartilage.


METHODS
In vitro cultured chondrocytes that were grown on a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (poly-HEMA) coated dish were seeded onto the PLGA scaffolds to make a cell-polymer construct before implantation. One cell scaffold construct was carefully implanted in the subcutaneous pocket of a nude mouse and another cell-free scaffold was implanted in the opposite side of the same nude mouse as the control. Morphologic, biochemical, and immunohistochemical characteristics of cells cultured within the PLGA constructs were examined after 8 weeks and 16 weeks of harvesting in the nude mouse.


RESULTS
New cartilage began to be generated in the period of 8 weeks and the neocartilage formation was accomplished in 4 months with the exact dimensions of the original scaffold in this in vivo study. All the explants showed the irregular shape of viable chondrocytes within normal lacunae and a mature cartilaginous matrix, and they positively immunostained for collagen type II.


CONCLUSIONS
The new tissue-engineered cartilage in vivo on PLGA scaffolds displayed the biochemical characteristics of cartilage tissue, and it showed chondrocyte-specific phenotypes and morphology that were similar to the native cartilage.
Baek
Chung-Hwan
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. suno@snu.ac.kr
Ko
Ye-Jeung
YJ
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010641:Phenotype; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024043:Collagen Type II; D003470:Culture Media; D011108:Polymers; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid