In vivo evaluation of 3-dimensional polycaprolactone scaffolds for cartilage repair in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Cartilage tissue engineering using synthetic scaffolds allows maintaining mechanical integrity and withstanding stress loads in the body, as well as providing a temporary substrate to which transplanted cells can adhere.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the use of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for the regeneration of articular cartilage in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
Five conditions were tested to attempt cartilage repair. To compare spontaneous healing (from subchondral plate bleeding) and healing due to tissue engineering, the experiment considered the use of osteochondral defects (to allow blood flow into the defect site) alone or filled with bare PCL scaffold and the use of PCL-chondrocytes constructs in chondral defects. For the latter condition, 1 series of PCL scaffolds was seeded in vitro with rabbit chondrocytes for 7 days and the cell/scaffold constructs were transplanted into rabbits' articular defects, avoiding compromising the subchondral bone. Cell pellets and bare scaffolds were implanted as controls in a chondral defect.


RESULTS
After 3 months with PCL scaffolds or cells/PCL constructs, defects were filled with white cartilaginous tissue; integration into the surrounding native cartilage was much better than control (cell pellet). The engineered constructs showed histologically good integration to the subchondral bone and surrounding cartilage with accumulation of extracellular matrix including type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan. The elastic modulus measured in the zone of the defect with the PCL/cells constructs was very similar to that of native cartilage, while that of the pellet-repaired cartilage was much smaller than native cartilage.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are quite promising with respect to the use of PCL scaffolds as aids for the regeneration of articular cartilage using tissue engineering techniques.
Martinez-Diaz
Santos
S
Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, URFOA, IMIM, RETICEF, Hospital del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Garcia-Giralt
Natalia
N
Lebourg
Myriam
M
Gómez-Tejedor
Jose-Antonio
JA
Vila
Gemma
G
Caceres
Enric
E
Benito
Pere
P
Pradas
Manuel Monleón
MM
Nogues
Xavier
X
Ribelles
Jose Luis Gómez
JL
Monllau
Joan Carles
JC
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014945:Wound Healing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone