Evaluation of chitosan-GP hydrogel biocompatibility in osteochondral defects: an experimental approach

Abstract

BackgroundArticular cartilage, because of its avascular nature, has little capacity for spontaneous healing, and tissue engineering approaches, employing different biomaterials and cells, are under development. Among the investigated biomaterials are the chitosan-based hydrogels. Although thoroughly studied in other mammalian species, studies are scarce in equines. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate the biocompatibility of chitosan-GP in horse joints submitted to high mechanical loads.ResultsAn osteochondral defect was created by arthroscopy in the medial surface of lateral trochlea of talus of left or right leg, randomly selected, from six healthy geldings. The defect was filled up with chitosan-GP. The contralateral joint received an identical defect with no implant. The chondral fragment removed to produce the defect was collected, processed and used as the “Initial” sample (normal cartilage) for histology, immunohistochemistry, and metabolic labelling of PGs. After 180 days, the repair tissues were collected, and also analyzed. At the end of the experiment (180 days after lesion), the total number of cells per field in repair tissues was equal to control, and macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells were not detected, suggesting that no significant inflammation was present. These cells were able to synthesize type II collagen and proteoglycans (PGs). Nevertheless, the cell population in these tissues, both in presence of chitosan-GP and in untreated controls, were heterogeneous, with a lower proportion of type II collagen-positives cells and some with a fibroblastic aspect. Moreover, the PGs synthesized in repair tissues formed in presence or absence of chitosan-GP were similar to those of normal cartilage. However, the chitosan-GP treated tissue had an disorganized appearance, and blood vessels were present.ConclusionsImplanted chitosan-GP did not evoke an important inflammatory reaction, and permitted cell growth. These cells were able to synthesize type II collagen and PGs similar to those synthesized in normal cartilage and in healing tissue without implant, indicating its chondrocyte nature.

Chitosan membranes applied on the prostatic neurovascular bundles after nerve‐sparing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy: a phase II study

“…As an alternative to auto‐grafting, various biomaterials have been developed for nerve reconstruction . In particular, chitosan, as a natural polysaccharide, has recently attracted increasing attention due to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability, non‐toxicity, ready availability, and physicochemical properties . Indeed, chitosan has been used in a variety of biomedical applications, including peripheral nerve repair.…”

“…Chitosan has been widely used in a variety of biomedical applications, including peripheral nerve repair, due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, ready availability, and antibacterial properties. With these features chitosan is being used in periodontal and orthopaedic systems (either implantable or injectable), as a drug‐delivery system, as a healing agent, as a pulmonary surfactant additive and, of specific interest, as a scaffold for regeneration of various tissues (nerve, skin, bone, cartilage) .…”

A Self-Setting Hydrogel of Silylated Chitosan and Cellulose for the Repair of Osteochondral Defects: From in vitro Characterization to Preclinical Evaluation in Dogs

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Thermosensitive hydrogel as an in situ gelling antimicrobial ocular dressing

“…Chitosan is a polymeric material with the ability to form a thermosensitive, hydrogel which is a viscous liquid at room and a gel at body temperature. This unique ability makes it a suitable biomaterial for application as wound dressing 28 . Rheological temperature sweep indicates that the chitosan βglycerolphosphate solution can be gelled at 38°C.…”