PRECLINICAL ARTICULAR CARTILAGE REPAIR USING A REGIONALLY SPECIFIC COLLAGEN/GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN OSTEOCHONDRAL SCAFFOLD

Abstract

Introduction: Current treatment options for small, contained articular cartilage defects include microfracture, osteochondral autograft plugs or newer synthetic plugs. Chondromimetic is a novel biphasic biological scaffold composed of collagen and glycosaminoglycan. The addition of brushite provides the scaffold with a regionally specific component enabling the scaffold to mimic both phases of the osteochondral unit.

The aim of this study was to show the efficacy of Chondromimetic in repairing a surgically created osteochondral defect in a caprine model.

Methods: Osteochondral defects were made in the lateral trochlear sulcus (LTS) and medial femoral condyle (MFC) of nine goats. Chondromimetic scaffolds (6x6mm) were inserted into each defect (n=6), while three controls had defects left empty (n=3). All animals were sacrificed at 26 weeks postoperatively. Macroscopic evaluations and quantitative stiffness properties were assessed. Histological sections were taken at approximately the centre of the defect, stained with Safrinin O/Fast Green and scored using a validated quantitative assessment tool.

Results: Macroscopically, the repair tissue scored higher in the filled MFC and LTS (p< 0.05) compared to controls. In all defects, the mechanical stiffness was found to be within one standard deviation of native cartilage, except the LTS controls. Histologically, the predominant tissue in the cartilage layer was hyaline-like in three of six filled MFC defects, and five of six filled LTS defects according to the modified Sellers score. This was compared to one in three and zero of three in the MFC and LTS controls respectively.

Discussion: These results represent the early findings from an ongoing in-vivo study in which a further group of animals will be sacrificed at one year. At six months, the histology and mechanical properties are encouraging and should continue to improve with time. These results show that Chondromimetic may represent an acceptable alternative to marrow stimulation in the treatment of osteochondral defects.