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Results of Chondrocyte Implantation with a Fibrin-Hyaluronan Matrix: A Preliminary Study

  • Symposium: New Approaches to Allograft Transplantation
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

Fibrin, a homologous polymer, is the natural scaffold of wound healing and therefore a candidate as a carrier for cell transplantation. We explored a novel matrix-based implant cartilage repair composed of both fibrin and hyaluronan in a defined ratio that takes advantage of the biological and mechanical properties of these two elements. The matrix was seeded with autologous chondrocytes expanded in the presence of a proprietary growth factor variant designed to preserve their chondrogenic potential. We prospectively followed eight patients with symptomatic-chronic cartilage defects treated with this carrier. Patients had arthroscopy to harvest autologous chondrocytes then grown in autologous serum. Chondrocytes were cultured in the presence of the FGF variant and then seeded on the fibrin-hyaluronan matrix. About 4 weeks following biopsy, the patients underwent implantation of the constructs by miniarthrotomy. Three of the eight patients had transient effusion. Clinical performance was measured by Lysholm and IKDC scores, MRI, and the need for secondary surgery. The clinical outcome of a 1-year followup demonstrated increase of clinical scores. The MRI followup showed good filling of the defect with tissue having the imaging appearance of cartilage in all patients. Apart from the transient effusion in three patients we observed no other adverse events during the followup.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Roni Wechsler and Ann Avron for critical review of the manuscript. Furthermore we thank Christoph Buchta for preparing the patients’ serum and Siegfried Trattnig for reviewing the MRI studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Regenerative Medicine, Danube University Krems, Dr. Karl Dorrek-Strasse 30, Krems, 3500, Austria

    S. Nehrer MD, PhD

  2. Orthopedic Department, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    C. Chiari MD & S. Domayer MD

  3. ProChon Biotech, Ness Ziona, Israel

    H. Barkay MSc & A. Yayon PhD, MD

Authors
  1. S. Nehrer MD, PhD
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  2. C. Chiari MD
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  3. S. Domayer MD
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  4. H. Barkay MSc
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  5. A. Yayon PhD, MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Nehrer MD, PhD.

Additional information

One or more of the authors (SN) certifies that he or she has received funding from ProChon to support this project. Two of the authors (AY, HB) are salaried employees of ProChon.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Nehrer, S., Chiari, C., Domayer, S. et al. Results of Chondrocyte Implantation with a Fibrin-Hyaluronan Matrix: A Preliminary Study . Clin Orthop Relat Res 466, 1849–1855 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0322-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0322-4

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