Comparative Evaluation of the Book‐Type Acellular Bone Scaffold and Fibrocartilage Scaffold for Bone‐Tendon Healing

Abstract

Bone-tendon (B-T) healing is a clinical challenge due to its limited regeneration capability. Fibrocartilage regeneration and bone formation at the healing site are two critical factors for B-T healing. Promoting fibrocartilage regeneration and bone formation by tissue-engineering may be a promising treatment strategy. In this study, we innovatively fabricated two kinds of acellular scaffolds from bone or fibrocartilage tissues, namely the book-type the acellular bone scaffold (BABS) and the book-type acellular fibrocartilage scaffold (BAFS). Histologically, the two scaffolds well preserved the native extracellular matrix (ECM) structure without cellular components. In vitro studies showed BABS is superior in osteogenic inducibility, while BAFS has good chondrogenic inducibility. To comparatively investigate the efficacy on B-T healing, the BABS or BAFS were, respectively, implanted into a rabbit partial patellectomy model. Macroscopically, a regenerated bone-tendon insertion (BTI) was bridging the residual patella and patellar-tendon with no signs of infection and osteoarthritis. Radiologically, more new bone was formed at the healing interface in the BABS group as compared with the BAFS or control (CTL) groups (p < 0.05). Histologically, at postoperative week 16, histological scores were significantly better for regenerated fibrocartilage in the BAFS group or BABS group compared with the CTL group, but the BAFS group showed a significantly larger score than the BABS groups (p < 0.05). Biomechanical evaluation indicated a higher failure load and stiffness were shown in the BAFS group than those in the BABS or CTL groups at week 16 (p < 0.05). This study indicated that the BAFS is a more promising scaffold for B-T healing in comparison with the BABS.

Treadmill exercise facilitated rotator cuff healing is coupled with regulating periphery neuropeptides expression in a murine model

“…When evaluating the overall effect of postoperative exercise using an ANOVA, mice from treadmill group had significantly higher BV/TV results compared with mice received free cage recovery (Figure 2B). SR‐μCT provides a novel method to visualize the fibrocartilage in enthesis with phase retrieval imaging 28 . After 3D reconstruction, the fibrocartilage layer can be easily distinguished (Figure 2C).…”

“…SR-μCT provides a novel method to visualize the fibrocartilage in enthesis with phase retrieval imaging. 28 After 3D reconstruction, the fibrocartilage layer can be easily distinguished ( Figure 2C). Quantitatively in coronal plane images, fibrocartilage lacunae are easily characterized in the fibrocartilage layer by synchrotron radiation μCT with a spatial resolution of 3.25 µm ( Figure S3).…”

Biomechanical Comparison of Augmentation of Engineered Tendon-Fibrocartilage-Bone Composite With Acellular Dermal Graft Using Double Rip-Stop Technique for Canine Rotator Cuff Repair

“…9,25,38 In order to transform the difficult healing of 2 entirely different tissues (bone to tendon) to much easier homogeneous tissue healing (tendon-tendon and bone-bone), a book-shaped engineered TFBC was invented, 16 which has shown potential for rotator cuff repair. 9,26,32,39 In addition, TFBC includes the natural fibrocartilage zone, which is difficult to regenerate after rotator cuff injury.…”

A Systematic Review of Tissue Engineering Scaffold in Tendon Bone Healing in vivo

“…Using a rabbit partial patellectomy model, both BAFS and BABS can promote tendon-bone healing, while the BAFS was more conductive in tendon-bone healing than the BABS. This study may provide a valuable reference for screening the optimal tissue-engineering scaffold applied in tendon-bone healing (Lu et al, 2019).…”

“…Acellular scaffolds play a unique role in promoting tendon bone healing. Lu et al, 2019 found an appropriate decellularization protocols for fibrocartilage tissue and prepared a novel book-shaped acellular fibrocartilage scaffold with cell-loading capability and chondrogenic inducibility for tissue-engineered fibrocartilage and bone-tendon healing. This screened scaffold alone could induce endogenous cells to satisfactorily regenerate fibrocartilage at 16 weeks, as characterized by fibrocartilaginous ECM deposition and good interface integration and may have further broad clinical applications in promoting bone-tendon healing.…”