Restoration of limited defects of the cartilage with the use of cell-engineered constructs

Abstract

Aim: to develop a three-dimensional composite cell-engineered constructs (CEC) for restoration of limited defects of the cartilage in experiment.Materials and methods. To create a cell-engineered constructs (CEC), were used collagenic carriers: «Chondro Gide» impermeable bilayer membrane and «Osteoplast» permeable matrix. A comparative study of their cytotoxic and adhesion properties was made in vitro. Chondroplastic potential of prepared CECs based on collagenous matrices with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) of the rabbit bone marrow grown on their surface was assessed in vivo. A cylindrical defect of the cartilage of the medial femoral condyle 3.3 mm in diameter at a depth of 1.5 mm was formed on both rabbit feet. Laboratory animals were divided into 3 groups: control group; Experiment 1 group with Chondro Gide used as the MSC carrier within CEC; Experiment 2 group using Osteoplast matrix. Upon experiment completion, a morphometric and histomorphologic research of tissue specimens was made. For statistical evaluation of the results a defect region recovery factor (RF) was offered and used. Results. After a 6-month observation period the control group showed partial recovery of the defect region with the recovery factor (RF) of 0.62 ± 0.06. The RF in Experiment 1 group equalled to 0.79 ± 0.07, Experiment 2 group revealed RF at the level of 0.88 ± 0.02. Statistical analysis of the research results shows that the use of CEC used in Experiment 2 group reduces a relative risk of therapeutic failures by 92.9%, and absolute risk – by 43.3% as compared to Experiment 1 group. Histomorphologic research data are indicative of a hyaline cartilage formation in the central defect zone, which is partially close to the intact cartilage to the maximum with zonality marked.Conclusion. Results of the research of the developed three-dimension cell-engineered constructs consisting of mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow grown on the Osteoplast permeable collagenic matrix show the formation of a cartilaginous hyaline tissue with a high level of structural organization in the area of its implantation. The thickness of a newly formed cartilage is insignifi cantly less than that of the preceding cartilaginous tissue, thus facilitating a dynamic distribution of the axial load on the articular surface, and as a whole this holds out hope for good long-term results. Therefore, based on the data obtained, we consider it reasonable to perform next investigation phases of the offered cell-engineered constructs for chondroplasty of limited cartilage defects.