Open AccessMembrane‐seeded autologous chondrocytes: cell viability and characterization at surgery
Author(s) -
Gigante Antonio,
Bevilacqua Claudia,
Ricevuto Andrea,
MattioliBelmonte Monica,
Greco Francesco
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-006-0115-9
Subject(s) - hyaluronic acid , viability assay , cartilage , hyaline , biomedical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , hyaline cartilage , membrane , tissue engineering , cell , chemistry , pathology , articular cartilage , anatomy , biology , medicine , biochemistry , osteoarthritis , alternative medicine
Abstract The implantation of chondrocytes, seeded on matrices such as hyaluronic acid or collagen membranes, is a method that is being widely used for the treatment of chondral defects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution, viability and phenotype expression of the cells seeded on a collagen membrane just at the time of the implantation. Twelve patients who were suffering from articular cartilage lesions were treated by the MACI ® procedure. The residual part of each membrane was tested by colorimetric assay (MTT) and histochemical and ultrastructural analyses were carried out. In all of the samples a large number of viable cells, quite homogenously distributed, was detected. The cells expressed the markers of the differentiated hyaline chondrocytes. These data reassure in that the MACI procedure provides a suitable engineered tissue for cartilage repair, in line with the clinical evidences emerging in the literature.