Preparation of human articular cartilage acellular matrix / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Elimination of antigenic substances from natural extracellular matrix with the integrity of the tissue structure retained renders the matrix to possess better biocompatibility and provides a cell culture environment close to conditions of the internal environment. Such materials are the primary choice for cell culture scaffold in tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE: To prepare human articular cartilage acellular matrix so as to provide a methodological basis for further study of articular cartilage acellular matrix as cell scaffold materials.DESIGN: A single sample study of bone tissues.SETTING: The experiment was performed in Institute of Orthopedics, General Hospital of PLA, between January and May in 2004. The specimens were obtained from patients requiring joint replacement for femoral neck fracture.MATERIAIS The experiment was conducted in the Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of PLA from January to May in 2004. Human articular cartilage specimens were obtained from the femoral head of patients with total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture.METHODS: Totally 10 specimens of fresh articular cartilage(3.5 mm × 4. 5 mm × 2.0 mm) were obtained and freeze-dried for 12 hours. Cartilage acellular matrix was prepared using Triton X-100, Dnase and Rnase and identified by means of hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and safranine O staining and immunohistochemical staining for cartilage proteoglycan.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Histological observation of the articular cartilage acellular matrix and immunohistochemical staining of cartilage proteoglycan.RESULTS: HE and safranine O staining both showed no cellular structure in the matrix with only recesses left by the removed cells. Immunohistochemical staining for cartilage proteoglycan yielded positive results, suggesting the presence of cartilage proteoglycan in the acellular matrix.CONCLUSION: Human articular cartilage acellular matrix can be prepared using the modified four-step procedures with detergent and enzymatic extraction with lyophilization, and the preserved cartilage proteoglycan in the material may retain good pressure resistance.