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Cartilage repair using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sheet and MSCs-loaded bilayer PLGA scaffold in a rabbit model

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

Abstract

Purpose

The integration of regenerated cartilage with surrounding native cartilage is a major challenge for the success of cartilage tissue-engineering strategies. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether incorporation of the power of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sheet to MSCs-loaded bilayer poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds can improve the integration and repair of cartilage defects in a rabbit model.

Methods

Rabbit bone marrow-derived MSCs were cultured and formed cell sheet. Full-thickness cylindrical osteochondral defects (4 mm in diameter, 3 mm in depth) were created in the patellar groove of 18 New Zealand white rabbits and the osteochondral defects were treated with PLGA scaffold (n = 6), PLGA/MSCs (n = 6) or MSC sheet-encapsulated PLGA/MSCs (n = 6). After 6 and 12 weeks, the integration and tissue response were evaluated histologically.

Results

The MSC sheet-encapsulated PLGA/MCSs group showed significantly more amounts of hyaline cartilage and higher histological scores than PLGA/MSCs group and PLGA group (P < 0.05). In addition, the MSC sheet-encapsulated PLGA/MCSs group showed the best integration between the repaired cartilage and surrounding normal cartilage and subchondral bone compared to other two groups.

Conclusions

The novel method of incorporation of MSC sheet to PLGA/MCSs could enhance the ability of cartilage regeneration and integration between repair cartilage and the surrounding cartilage. Transplantation of autologous MSC sheet combined with traditional strategies or cartilage debris might provide therapeutic opportunities for improving cartilage regeneration and integration in humans.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by the Science Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (2008C13025), the Natural Science Foundation of China (81071259, 30901531), and the Natural Science Grants of Zhejiang Province (Y2090283, Y2090440).

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China

    Yiying Qi, Yi Du, Weixu Li, Xuesong Dai & Weiqi Yan

  2. The Second Affiliated Hospital (Binjiang Branch), School of Medicine, Hangzhou Binjiang Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China

    Xuesong Dai & Tengfei Zhao

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  1. Yiying Qi
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  2. Yi Du
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  3. Weixu Li
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Correspondence to Xuesong Dai or Weiqi Yan.

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Qi, Y., Du, Y., Li, W. et al. Cartilage repair using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sheet and MSCs-loaded bilayer PLGA scaffold in a rabbit model. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22, 1424–1433 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2256-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2256-3

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