title: Porous poly(vinyl alcohol)-hydrogel matrix-engineered biosynthetic cartilage.
abstract: The objective of this study was to fabricate hydrogel matrix-engineered biosynthetic cartilage using a porous poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (PVA-H) and articular chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were suspended in fibrin gel (FG) or saline carriers and injected into porous PVA-H discs and three-layered constructs (PVA-H between devitalized cartilage). After implantation in nude mice, PVA discs were explanted at 6 weeks and subjected to creep testing for a 20 h period. The three-layered constructs were explanted at 12 weeks and subjected to tensile testing to determine the strength of the interface between the engineered hydrogel and devitalized cartilage. Histological analysis revealed PVA-H porous channels occupied by chondrocytes. Extracellular matrix was identified by Safranin-O and toluidine blue stains. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a positive stain for COL II and scant staining for COL I. Creep and relaxation response of PVA-FG-chondrocyte constructs was similar to that of native cartilage. The presence of cells and FG significantly enhanced the integration strength of layered constructs (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that porous PVA-H in combination with FG and chondrocytes provides a favorable microenvironment for tissue engineering of articular cartilage, creating a biosynthetic construct that can adhere to native devitalized articular cartilage utilizing hydrogel matrix-engineered technology.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Research Laboratory, Division of Plastic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bichara
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bodugoz-Senturk
authors.forename: Fred P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Ballyns
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Randolph
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bonassar
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Orhun K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Muratoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000379:methods; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol