Allogenous bone with collagen for repair of deep osteochondral defects

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research Vol. 185; no. 2; pp. 667 - 675
• Main Authors: Schleicher, Iris, MD, Lips, Katrin S., PhD, Sommer, Ursula, DVM, Schappat, Ines, Martin, Alexander P, Szalay, Gabor, MD, Schnettler, Reinhard, MD, DVM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Allogenous bone; Animals; Autologous chondrocytes; Biphasic scaffold; Bone Transplantation - methods; Cartilage regeneration; Cartilage, Articular - physiology; Chondrocytes - cytology; Chondrocytes - physiology; Collagen - pharmacology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Femur - pathology; Femur - surgery; Osseous integration; Osteochondral defect; Osteochondrosis - pathology; Osteochondrosis - surgery; Regeneration; Sheep; Surgery; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds; Transplantation, Homologous; Cartilage regeneration; Allogenous bone; Biphasic scaffold; Autologous chondrocytes; Osteochondral defect; Osseous integration
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2013.07.061

Abstract Background A scaffold for treatment of deep osteochondral defects should be stable, integrate well, and provide a surface for chondrocytes. To meet these demands, a biphasic scaffold of allogenous sterilized bone with a collagen surface was developed. Integration was tested in the sheep model. Material and methods Cartilage chips were taken from the nonweight-bearing area of the left knee of 12 sheep and cultured. After 4 wk a second procedure followed and defects of 9.4-mm diameter at the weight-bearing area of the medial femoral condyle of the right knee were created. The sterilized scaffold was inserted and the cultured autologous chondrocytes were dripped onto the surface. After 6 wk, 3 mo, and 6 mo the animals were sacrificed; the explanted femoral condyles were evaluated macroscopically and using histologic, immunohistochemical, and electronmicroscopic methods. Results After 6 wk the level of the surface was well preserved, after 3 mo parts of the scaffold were sintered but after 6 mo the surface was continuous. Full integration of the allogenous bone could be observed after 6 mo. The surface of the scaffold after 6 wk consisted of bone, but after 3 mo some chondrocytes and after 6 mo a continuous chondral layer could be detected. Conclusions The biphasic scaffold of allogenous bone and collagen proved to be stable and sufficiently integrated in the short- and midterm interval. Whether the chondrocytes on the surface had been derived from implanted chondrocytes or the scaffold with its surface was sufficiently chondroconductive must be answered in further investigations.