ABSTRACT
Objective To establish osteochondral scaffolds with remained calcified cartilage zone for finding an ideal scaffold for tissue engineered repair of osteochondral defect.Methods Cartilage zone was harvested from fresh adult porcine knee to fabricate type Ⅱ collagen hydrogel.Bone blocks measuring 8 mm in diameter with calcified cartilage zone were prepared by trephine and acellular treatment was performed.Histological staining was used to identify complete removal of cells.To fabricate the osteochondral models containing calcified cartilage zone,type Ⅱ collagen was seeded onto the acellular bone blocks with calcified cartilage zone,lyophilized,and cross-linked with 10 g/L of genipin ethanol solution.Then cell seeding and scanning electron microscope were performed after the models were established.Results HE staining,toluidine blue staining,solid green staining,safranin O staining,and DAPI staining showed cells were completely removed from bone blocks by decellularized process.Porosity of type Ⅱ collagen sponge was (91.1 ±3.8) ％ and pore size was (79.7 ± 17.1) μm.Porosity of acellular bone blocks was (73.5 ±2.6)％ and pore size was (470.2 ± 158.8) μm.Cells seeded onto osteochondral scaffolds grew well by scanning electron microscope.Conclusion Osteochondral scaffolds with calcified cartilage zone provide good biocompatibility and suitable pore size and porosity and may be an ideal material for repairing osteochondral defect in tissue engineering.