Intra-Articular Injection of Chitin Nanofiber Attenuates Osteoarthritis : An Experimental Study in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

• Published in: YONAGO ACTA MEDICA Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 22 - 30
• Main Authors: Okuno, Masayuki, Enokida, Makoto, Nagira, Keita, Nagashima, Hideki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Japan Tottori University Medical Press 2024; YAM
• Subjects: Original; chitin nanofibers; osteoarthritic rat model
• ISSN: 0513-5710; 1346-8049
• DOI: 10.33160/yam.2024.02.003

[ABSTRACT] [Background] This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chitin nanofibers (CNF) produced from crab shells as a medical material for the knee in an osteoarthritic rat model. [Methods] The effect of intra-articular CNF injection was evaluated histologically among three groups: saline, hyaluronic acid (HA), and CNF injection groups. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) cartilage, subchondral bone, synovial, and meniscus scores were used for scoring. [Results] At 4 weeks, the CNF group had significantly lower scores than the saline group. The Synovial score was lower in HA and CNF groups at 4 weeks than in the saline group. At 4 weeks post-treatment, the thickening of the subchondral bone plate and angiogenesis were significantly reduced in the CNF treatment group compared to those in the saline treatment group (P=0.02). [Conclusion] The anti-inflammatory effects of CNF on knee osteoarthritis were comparable to that of HA in the early stages.