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A tissue engineered osteochondral plug: an in vitro morphological evaluation

  • Experimental Study
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Articular cartilage lesions have a poor intrinsic healing potential. The repair tissue is often fibrous, having insufficient biomechanical properties, which could frequently lead to the development of early osteoarthritis. In the last decade, tissue engineering approaches addressed this topic in order to restore joint function with a differentiated and functional tissue. Many biomaterials and techniques have been proposed and some of them applied in clinical practice, even though several concerns have been raised on the quality of the engineered tissue and on its integration in the host joint. In this study, we focused on engineering in vitro a biphasic composite made of cellular fibrin glue and a calcium–phosphate scaffold. Biphasic composites are the latest products of tissue engineering applied to articular cartilage and they seem to allow a more efficient integration of the engineered tissue with the host. However, a firm in vitro bonding between the two components of the composite is a necessary condition to validate this model. Our study demonstrated a gross and microscopic integration of the two components and a cartilage-like quality of the newly formed matrix. Moreover, we noticed an improvement of this integration and GAGs production during the in vitro culture.

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Acknowledgments

This work was done at the Stem Cell Research Institute, directed by Professor Giulio Cossu. The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Paolo Stortini for his precious help in histological analysis. A special thank is given to the Spaccio Agricolo Agripig for their assistance in animal management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy

    C. Scotti, L. Mangiavini, C. Sosio, G. Fraschini & G. M. Peretti

  2. Residency Program in Orthopaedics and Traumatology I, University of Milan, Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini, Piazza A. Ferrari 1, 20122, Milan, Italy

    C. Scotti

  3. Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    M. S. Buragas

  4. Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Trentacoste 2, 20134, Milan, Italy

    A. Di Giancamillo & C. Domeneghini

  5. Faculty of Exercise Sciences, University of Milan, Via Kramer 4/A, 20129, Milan, Italy

    G. M. Peretti

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  1. C. Scotti
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  2. M. S. Buragas
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  3. L. Mangiavini
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  4. C. Sosio
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Correspondence to G. M. Peretti.

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Scotti, C., Buragas, M.S., Mangiavini, L. et al. A tissue engineered osteochondral plug: an in vitro morphological evaluation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthr 15, 1363–1369 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-007-0359-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-007-0359-z

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