Injectable Gellan Gum Hydrogels with Autologous Cells for the Treatment of Rabbit Articular Cartilage Defects

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Oliveira, JT (Author) Other; Gardel, LS (Author) Other; Rada, T (Author) Other; Martins, L (Author) Other; Gomes, ME (Author) Other; Rui Reis (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Orthopaedic Research

Vol. 28

Pages: 1193-1199

ISSN: 0736-0266

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 105 Citations

Scopus - 115 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-3MQ

DOI: 10.1002/jor.21114

Abstract (EN): In this work, the ability of gellan gum hydrogels coupled with autologous cells to regenerate rabbit full-thickness articular cartilage defects was tested. Five study groups were defined: (a) gellan gum with encapsulated chondrogenic predifferentiated rabbit adipose stem cells (ASC + GF); (b) gellan gum with encapsulated nonchondrogenic predifferentiated rabbit adipose stem cells (ASC); (c) gellan gum with encapsulated rabbit articular chondrocytes (AC) (standard control); (d) gellan gum alone (control); (e) empty defect (control). Full-thickness articular cartilage defects were created and the gellan gum constructs were injected and left for 8 weeks. The macroscopic aspect of the explants showed a progressive increase of similarity with the lateral native cartilage, stable integration at the defect site, more pronouncedly in the cell-loaded constructs. Tissue scoring showed that ASC + GF exhibited the best results regarding tissue quality progression. Alcian blue retrieved similar results with a better outcome for the cell-loaded constructs. Regarding real-time PCR analyses, ASC + GF had the best progression with an upregulation of collagen type II and aggrecan, and a downregulation of collagen type I. Gellan gum hydrogels combined with autologous cells constitute a promising approach for the treatment of articular cartilage defects, and adipose derived cells may constitute a valid alternative to currently used articular chondrocytes. (C) 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1193-1199, 2010

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7