Fibrin-Based Model for Cartilage Regeneration: Tissue Maturation fromIn VitrotoIn Vivo

Abstract

One of the crucial points for a successful tissue-engineering approach for cartilage repair is represented by the level of in vitro maturation of the engineered tissue before implantation. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of the level of in vitro maturation of engineered cartilaginous samples on the tissue quality after in vivo implantation. Samples were obtained from isolated swine articular chondrocytes embedded in fibrin glue. The cell-fibrin composites were either cultured in vitro or directly implanted in vivo for 1, 5, and 9 weeks. Other experimental samples were precultured for either 1 or 5 weeks in vitro and then implanted in vivo for 4 additional weeks. All the samples were analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and gene expression. The results strongly suggest that the in vivo culture in this model promoted a better tissue maturation than that obtained in the in vitro condition, and that 1 week in vitro preculture resulted in the primary structuring of the engineered composites and their subsequent maturation in vivo, without affecting the cell viability and activity, while a prolonged in vitro preculture caused a cell and matrix degeneration that could not be rescued in vivo.

Autologous cartilage fragments in a composite scaffold for one stage osteochondral repair in a goat model

“…The fibrin glue can therefore be considered as a wrapping material for the cartilage chips and a bridging material between the HA-felt and the PRFM. As shown in other in vivo studies (Deponti et al, 2012;Lewis et al, 2009;Peretti et al, 2006;Peretti et al, 2001;Peretti et al, 2000), we did not observe any major inflammatory reactions in animal models, supporting the use of fibrin glue as a component of the scaffold.…”

Fibrin-Mediated Delivery of an Ovarian Follicle Pool in a Mouse Model of Infertility

“…Fibrin hydrogels, which are degradable and support cell ingrowth and integration with the host rather than isolation, have been widely used as surgical sealants, tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery, and cell and tissue transplantation. [24][25][26][27]37 At the time of encapsulation, follicles are distributed throughout the hydrogel; however, they were observed in close proximity at days 9 and 21 post-transplantation, which may have resulted from fibrin degradation. The distribution of follicles within the implant is a critical design consideration that will require further study.…”

“…Follicles along with a small number of passenger stromal cells were delivered into the ovarian bursa in mice, and were encapsulated within fibrin hydrogels that support the isolated follicles in the absence of intact stromal tissue. Fibrin has been employed as a surgical sealant; however, it is also employed as a versatile scaffold for tissue engineering 24 and as a vehicle for cell and tissue transplantation, [24][25][26][27] which is due, in part, to its gelation under physiological conditions (isotonic, 37°C, and a pH 7.4). Human ovarian follicles have been transplanted into immunocompromised mice, 11,28 with the follicles able to enter the growing pool.…”

Osteochondral Repair by a Novel Interconnecting Collagen–Hydroxyapatite Substitute: A Large-Animal Study

“…Then, 100 l of the fibrinogen-cell suspension was seeded onto the collagen sponges (8 x 10 6 cells/ scaffold) prepared according to the design parameters optimized previously. After complete cell absorption, 100 l of thrombin (1,37 mg/ml, Chemicon International, Inc., Temecula, CA, USA) were added in order to form fibrin glue [28][29][30][31][32][33]. After 30 minutes, complete polymerization was reached and the scaffolds were placed in culture flasks for the in vitro culture.…”