Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

The endogenous healing potential of avascular meniscal lesions is poor. Up to now, partial meniscectomy is still the treatment of choice for meniscal lesions within the avascular area. However, the large loss of meniscus substance predisposes the knee for osteoarthritic changes. Tissue engineering t...

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Main Authors: Matthias Koch, Felix P. Achatz, Siegmund Lang, Christian G. Pfeifer, Girish Pattappa, Richard Kujat, Michael Nerlich, Peter Angele, Johannes Zellner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Stem Cells International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8207071
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author Matthias Koch
Felix P. Achatz
Siegmund Lang
Christian G. Pfeifer
Girish Pattappa
Richard Kujat
Michael Nerlich
Peter Angele
Johannes Zellner
author_facet Matthias Koch
Felix P. Achatz
Siegmund Lang
Christian G. Pfeifer
Girish Pattappa
Richard Kujat
Michael Nerlich
Peter Angele
Johannes Zellner
author_sort Matthias Koch
collection DOAJ
description The endogenous healing potential of avascular meniscal lesions is poor. Up to now, partial meniscectomy is still the treatment of choice for meniscal lesions within the avascular area. However, the large loss of meniscus substance predisposes the knee for osteoarthritic changes. Tissue engineering techniques for the replacement of such lesions could be a promising alternative treatment option. Thus, a polyurethane scaffold, which is already in clinical use, loaded with mesenchymal stromal cells, was analyzed for the repair of critical meniscus defects in the avascular zone. Large, approximately 7 mm broad meniscus lesions affecting both the avascular and vascular area of the lateral rabbit meniscus were treated with polyurethane scaffolds either loaded or unloaded with mesenchymal stromal cells. Menisci were harvested at 6 and 12 weeks after initial surgery. Both cell-free and cell-loaded approaches led to well-integrated and stable meniscus-like repair tissue. However, an accelerated healing was achieved by the application of mesenchymal stromal cells. Dense vascularization was detected throughout the repair tissue of both treatment groups. Overall, the polyurethane scaffold seems to promote the vessel ingrowth. The application of mesenchymal stromal cells has the potential to speed up the healing process.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1687-966X
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language English
publishDate 2018-01-01
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series Stem Cells International
spelling doaj-art-7e6ade70a5834a88890790830e3b558e2025-08-20T02:08:58ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782018-01-01201810.1155/2018/82070718207071Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal CellsMatthias Koch0Felix P. Achatz1Siegmund Lang2Christian G. Pfeifer3Girish Pattappa4Richard Kujat5Michael Nerlich6Peter Angele7Johannes Zellner8Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, GermanyThe endogenous healing potential of avascular meniscal lesions is poor. Up to now, partial meniscectomy is still the treatment of choice for meniscal lesions within the avascular area. However, the large loss of meniscus substance predisposes the knee for osteoarthritic changes. Tissue engineering techniques for the replacement of such lesions could be a promising alternative treatment option. Thus, a polyurethane scaffold, which is already in clinical use, loaded with mesenchymal stromal cells, was analyzed for the repair of critical meniscus defects in the avascular zone. Large, approximately 7 mm broad meniscus lesions affecting both the avascular and vascular area of the lateral rabbit meniscus were treated with polyurethane scaffolds either loaded or unloaded with mesenchymal stromal cells. Menisci were harvested at 6 and 12 weeks after initial surgery. Both cell-free and cell-loaded approaches led to well-integrated and stable meniscus-like repair tissue. However, an accelerated healing was achieved by the application of mesenchymal stromal cells. Dense vascularization was detected throughout the repair tissue of both treatment groups. Overall, the polyurethane scaffold seems to promote the vessel ingrowth. The application of mesenchymal stromal cells has the potential to speed up the healing process.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8207071
spellingShingle Matthias Koch
Felix P. Achatz
Siegmund Lang
Christian G. Pfeifer
Girish Pattappa
Richard Kujat
Michael Nerlich
Peter Angele
Johannes Zellner
Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Stem Cells International
title Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
title_full Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
title_fullStr Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
title_full_unstemmed Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
title_short Tissue Engineering of Large Full-Size Meniscus Defects by a Polyurethane Scaffold: Accelerated Regeneration by Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
title_sort tissue engineering of large full size meniscus defects by a polyurethane scaffold accelerated regeneration by mesenchymal stromal cells
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8207071
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