Evaluation of three-dimensional scaffolds prepared from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) for growth of allogeneic chondrocytes for cartilage repair in rabbits.
Articular cartilage repair using tissue engineering approach generally requires the use of an appropriate scaffold architecture that can support the formation of cartilage tissue. In this investigation, the potential of three-dimensional scaffolds made of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) was evaluated in rabbit articular cartilage defect model. Engineered PHBHHx cartilage constructs inoculated in vitro with rabbit chondrocytes for 30 days were examined. Subsequently the constructs inoculated with chondrocytes for 10 days were selected for transplantation into rabbits. After 16 weeks of in vivo implantation, both the engineered cartilage constructs and the bare scaffolds were found to be filled the defects with white cartilaginous tissue, with the engineered constructs showing histologically good subchondral bone connection and better surrounding cartilage infusion. Owing to pre-seeded chondrocytes in the PHBHHx scaffolds, better surface integrality and more accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) including type II collagen and sGAG were achieved in the engineered cartilage constructs. The repaired tissues possessed an average compressive modulus of 1.58MPa. For comparison, the defects without repair treatments still showed defects with fibrous tissues. These results demonstrated that PHBHHx is a useful material for cartilage tissue engineering.
Wang
Yang
Y
Protein Science Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Bian
Yu-Zhu
YZ
Wu
Qiong
Q
Chen
Guo-Qiang
GQ
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002455:Cell Division; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D002208:Caproates; C115940:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates