FABRICATION OF TISSUE ENGINEERED CARTILAGE USING PGA AS SCAFFOLD SEEDED WITH ALLOGENIC CHONDROCYTES / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

To investigate the formation of tissue engineered cartilage using polyglycolic acid (PGA) as three dimensional scaffold seeded with allogenic chondrocytes. First, chondrocytes were harvested from rib cartilage of one week old infant rabbits by collagenase digestion.The isolated cells were cultured in vitro for 2～3 generations, and then the cell suspension was concentrated. Next, the suspension was seeded onto PGA scaffolds soaked with poly l lysine. Then, scaffold chondrocyte constructs were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue of adult rabbits. Finally, the chondrogenesis was studied histologically at various periods. The results showed that chondrocytes were well distributed on the PGA scaffolds in the period of culture in vitro, and could secrete matrix around one week after seeding. 4 weeks after transplantation, the immature cartilage was regenerated in recipient animals. But some inflammatory cells surrounding the new cartilage and some PGA fibers were observed. 8 weeks after transplantation, mature cartilage with abundant matrix was obtained. PGA fibers were not found. This study proves that it is possible to regenerate new cartilage in animals possessing immune function by seeding allogenic chondrocytes onto PGA scaffold. Rejectionreaction is not strong.