Frictional properties of articular cartilage-like tissues repaired with a mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineered construct

Abstract

We have been developing a novel tissue engineering technique for cartilage repair using a scaffold-free tissue engineered construct (TEC) bio-synthesized from synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In the present study, the effect of TEC on the repair of chondral defect in the femoral condyle of immature and mature pigs were investigated. The permeability of TEC-treated repaired tissues was significantly higher than normal level at surface layer in immature animals, while the permeability was slightly higher than normal level at middle and deep layers in mature animals. In immature animals, the coefficient of friction of TEC-treated tissues against a glass plate was load-dependently increased, with a significantly higher value than normal level observed at a high load (280 kPa). In contrast, the coefficient of friction was load-dependently decreased in mature animals, with no significant differences from normal level observed at all loads (70, 140, and 280 kPa). It is suggested that the frictional properties of TEC-treated cartilage-like repaired tissues are recovered to normal level in mature animals, while they are unrecovered to normal level due to underdeveloped, permeable surface layer in immature animals.

Review of the biomechanics and biotribology of osteochondral grafts used for surgical interventions in the knee

“… 40 , 46 – 50 , 56 , 57 Previous in vitro experiments evaluating the friction and wear response of tissue engineered cartilage in pin-on-plate experimental set-ups have reported a higher equilibrium coefficient of friction compared to native cartilage. 47 – 49 , 57 Several of these studies have shown a time-dependent frictional response of the tissue engineered cartilage constructs 40 , 46 , 47 , 49 similar to that of native cartilage. The presence of a time-dependent frictional response is indicative of the presence of some biphasic behaviour and interstitial fluid pressurisation within the tissue engineered cartilage constructs.…”

Cartilage repair techniques in the knee: stem cell therapies

“…Among those, a (mini)pig model has been most frequently employed in previous studies [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. Various cell types and materials were tested in the studies.…”

“…With the intent of evaluation with models that is more relevant to clinical condition in humans, large animals such as pig and sheep have been used as experimental subjects [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Among those, a (mini)pig model has been most frequently employed in previous studies [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44].…”