title: In Vivo Evaluation of a Novel Oriented Scaffold-BMSC Construct for Enhancing Full-Thickness Articular Cartilage Repair in a Rabbit Model.
abstract: Tissue engineering (TE) has been proven usefulness in cartilage defect repair. For effective cartilage repair, the structural orientation of the cartilage scaffold should mimic that of native articular cartilage, as this orientation is closely linked to cartilage mechanical functions. Using thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS) technology, we have fabricated an oriented cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived scaffold with a Young's modulus value 3 times higher than that of a random scaffold. In this study, we test the effectiveness of bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-scaffold constructs (cell-oriented and random) in repairing full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits. While histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed efficient cartilage regeneration and cartilaginous matrix secretion at 6 and 12 weeks after transplantation in both groups, the biochemical properties (levels of DNA, GAG, and collagen) and biomechanical values in the oriented scaffold group were higher than that in random group at early time points after implantation. While these differences were not evident at 24 weeks, the biochemical and biomechanical properties of the regenerated cartilage in the oriented scaffold-BMSC construct group were similar to that of native cartilage. These results demonstrate that an oriented scaffold, in combination with differentiated BMSCs can successfully repair full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits, and produce cartilage enhanced biomechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.|Department of Orthopaedics, Shannxi Hospital of Armed Police Force, Xi'an, Shannxi, China.
authors.forename: Shuaijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Movement Studies, Xi'an physical education university, Xi'an, Shannxi, China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shannxi, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomanufacturing Engineering Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.|Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008422:Materials Testing; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds