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Engineered allogeneic chondrocyte pellet for reconstruction of fibrocartilage zone at bone–tendon junction—A preliminary histological observation
Author(s) -
Wong Margaret W. N.,
Qin Lin,
Tai Jenny K. O.,
Lee Simon K. M.,
Leung K.S.,
Chan K. M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.30049
Subject(s) - fibrocartilage , medicine , patella , chondrocyte , autologous chondrocyte implantation , tendon , surgery , anatomy , cartilage , articular cartilage , osteoarthritis , pathology , alternative medicine
This study examined histologically the potential of using allogeneic cultured chondrocyte pellet (CCP) in enhancing bone–tendon junction (BTJ) healing using a rabbit partial patellectomy model. Chondrocytes isolated from the cartilaginous ribs of 6‐week‐old New Zealand white rabbits were cultured for 14 days to form CCP. Partial patellectomy was performed on 30 18‐week‐old rabbits. After removal of the distal third patella, the BTJ gap was repaired surgically with or without CCP interposition. Four samples of patella–patellar tendon complexes (PPTC) for each group were harvested each at 8, 12, and 16 weeks; and two additional PPTC for each group were harvested at 2, 4, and 6 weeks for early observation of fibrocartilage zone regeneration, histologically. Results showed that CCP interposition demonstrated earlier structural integration at the BTJ after 8, 12, and 16 weeks of healing, and formation of a fibrocartilage zone like structure, compared with control specimens. In addition, no immune rejection was observed in CCP experimental group. The results suggested that CCP had a stimulatory effect on BTJ healing. This bioengineering approach might have potential clinical application in treatment of difficult BTJ healing. However, systemic histomorphometric, immunological tests, and biomechanical evaluations are needed before any clinical trials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 70B: 362–367, 2004