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Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote repair of focal articular cartilage defects with engineered osteochondral constructs
Author(s) -
Stefani Robert M.,
Barbosa Sofia,
Tan Andrea R.,
Setti Stefania,
Stoker Aaron M.,
Ateshian Gerard A.,
Cadossi Ruggero,
VunjakNovakovic Gordana,
Aaron Roy K.,
Cook James L.,
Bulinski J. Chloë,
Hung Clark T.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.27287
Subject(s) - cartilage , in vivo , medicine , biomedical engineering , chondrocyte , scaffold , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Abstract Articular cartilage injuries are a common source of joint pain and dysfunction. We hypothesized that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) would improve growth and healing of tissue‐engineered cartilage grafts in a direction‐dependent manner. PEMF stimulation of engineered cartilage constructs was first evaluated in vitro using passaged adult canine chondrocytes embedded in an agarose hydrogel scaffold. PEMF coils oriented parallel to the articular surface induced superior repair stiffness compared to both perpendicular PEMF ( p = .026) and control ( p = .012). This was correlated with increased glycosaminoglycan deposition in both parallel and perpendicular PEMF orientations compared to control ( p = .010 and .028, respectively). Following in vitro optimization, the potential clinical translation of PEMF was evaluated in a preliminary in vivo preclinical adult canine model. Engineered osteochondral constructs (∅ 6 mm × 6 mm thick, devitalized bone base) were cultured to maturity and implanted into focal defects created in the stifle (knee) joint. To assess expedited early repair, animals were assessed after a 3‐month recovery period, with microfracture repairs serving as an additional clinical control. In vivo, PEMF led to a greater likelihood of normal chondrocyte (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, p = .051) and proteoglycan (OR: 5.0, p = .013) histological scores in engineered constructs. Interestingly, engineered constructs outperformed microfracture in clinical scoring, regardless of PEMF treatment ( p < .05). Overall, the studies provided evidence that PEMF stimulation enhanced engineered cartilage growth and repair, demonstrating a potential low‐cost, low‐risk, noninvasive treatment modality for expediting early cartilage repair.