title: Usefulness of polyglycolic acid-polypropylene composite scaffolds for three-dimensional cartilage regeneration in a large-animal autograft model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approaches to auricular reconstruction have shown improved outcome when a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) slow-release system and fibrin spraying are combined with biodegradable polymers. More complex, three-dimensional structures, such as those that replicate the human auricle, are often lost because of biodegradation of the synthetic scaffold.
  
  
  METHODS
  To improve the mechanical strength of regenerated cartilage, the authors grafted canine autologous chondrocytes after seeding onto scaffolds made of a complex of polyglycolic acid and polypropylene, incorporating a slow-release bFGF system with a fibrin spray coating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five weeks after grafting, thicker cartilage with increased bending stress was obtained with the slow-release bFGF. In a three-polyglycolic acid-layer construct sandwiched around polypropylene, simulating a three-dimensional auricular structure, greater cartilage regeneration and angiogenesis were found around the implant. Sox5-positive cells were identified, indicative of maturation of neocartilage with chondroblast proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the usefulness of combining absorbable and nonabsorbable materials (polyglycolic acid and polypropylene) in composite scaffolds for autologous cartilage regeneration in a large-animal autograft model.
authors: Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Mitsuhiro
authors: M
authors: Enjo
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Terada
authors: Maki
authors: M
authors: Uehara
authors: Yoshihito
authors: Y
authors: Itani
authors: Noritaka
authors: N
authors: Isogai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012038:Regeneration; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid