Abstract
We have been developing a new tissue engineering technique for cartilage repair using a scaffold-free tissue engineered construct (TEC) bio-synthesized from synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). A round-shaped chondral defect of 8.5 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm in depth created on the medial condyle of immature (4-month-old) and mature (12-month-old) porcine femur was filled with the TEC. Six months after surgery, a cylindrically shaped specimen of 4 mm in diameter and 4-5 mm in depth was extracted. Stiffness measurements were carried out on the specimen using an AFM after the surface image of the specimen was obtained. The TEC-treated tissues exhibited more irregular surface as compared with normal cartilage, regardless of animal maturity. The stiffness of the superficial layer of the TEC-treated tissue was significantly lower than those of the normal cartilage, indicating 6.8±2.3 mN/m in the immature group and 8.8±2.3 mN/m in the mature group. Histological observation indicated that the defects were repaired with a hyaline cartilage-like tissue with positive Safranine O staining, regardless of animal maturity. However, the superficial layer of the repaired tissues was negatively stained with Safranine O. The present study suggests that the recovery of the superficial layer is delayed in both immature and mature animals although the treatment with TEC enhances the repair of partial chondral defects.
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