Fibronectin‐coated polyurethane meniscal scaffolding supplemented with MSCs improves scaffold integration and proteoglycan production in a rabbit model

Abstract

Purpose The role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in supporting the formation of new meniscal tissue in a meniscal scafold is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the meniscal tissue produced in a ibronectin (FN)-coated polyurethane (PU) meniscal scafold after a meniscal injury was made in an experimental rabbit model. Methods Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in two groups after performing a medial meniscectomy of the anterior horn. In group 1, the meniscal defect was reconstructed with a non-MSC supplemented FN-coated PU scafold. On the other hand, the same scafold supplemented with MSCs was used in group 2. The animals were sacriiced at 12 week after index surgery. A modiied scoring system was used for histological assessment. This new scoring (ranging from 0 to 15) includes a structural evaluation (meniscal scafold interface and extracellular matrix production) and tissue quality evaluation (proteoglycan and type I-collagen content). ResultsThe meniscal scafold was found loose in the joint in three cases, corresponding to two cases in group 1 and 1 case in group 2. No diferences were observed between the groups in terms of the total score (7.0 ± 0.9 vs. 9.4 ± 2.6, p = 0.09). However, diferences were observed in group 2 in which 2 out of the 5 scored items, scafold integration (1 ± 0.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.03) and proteoglycan production (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.001). A trend to a higher production of Type I-Collagen production was also observed in group 2 (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.7, p = 0.05). Conclusion In a rabbit model at 12 weeks, the adhesion of MSCs to a FN-coated PU scafold improves scafold integration, proteoglycan production and the characteristics of the new meniscal-like tissue obtained when compared to a nonsupplemented scafold. This fact could be a major step toward improving the adhesion of the MSCs to meniscal scafolds and, consequently, the obtention of better quality meniscal tissue.