聚乙烯醇/羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶修复膝关节软骨缺损的组织相容性

背景：将羟基磷灰石与聚乙烯醇水凝胶复合之后应用于软骨缺损修复中,可在软骨连接部位产生良好的生物活性,有效促进骨细胞的生长,提高植入材料的稳定性和生物活性。 目的：观察聚乙烯醇/羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶修复兔膝关节软骨缺损的组织相容性。 方法：取20只新西兰大白兔,随机分为空白对照组(n=6)与实验组(n=14),构建单侧膝关节软骨缺损模型,空白对照组不予以修复,实验组予以聚乙烯醇/羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶修复。术后4,8,12周获取膝关节标本进行大体观察及组织学观察。 结果与结论：空白对照组关节软骨面在术后12周内始终未得到修复,软骨下缺损存在肉芽组织充填现象,组织学也未见明显修复。实验组术后4周可见聚乙烯醇/羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶填充于缺损处,与周围软骨组织之间连接紧密,且存在清晰的界限,未出现细胞长入情况;至12周时,聚乙烯醇/羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶呈白色、半透明状,表面平坦,与周围软骨组织之间存在清晰界限,两者交界面存在软骨细胞大量增殖现象,与周围组织发生紧密结合,二者之间无间隙,底部与软骨下骨紧密连接,并存在骨样组织长入。表明聚乙烯醇羟基磷灰石复合水凝胶修复兔膝关节软骨缺损具有良好的组织相容性。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程     

软骨移植与软骨微骨折方法修复关节软骨损伤

背景：文献介绍微骨折与骨软骨移植治疗关节软骨缺损都有效,均为目前临床治疗手段。 目的：比较微骨折与骨软骨移植在关节软骨缺损治疗中的实施效果。 方法：回顾性分析50例(50个膝关节)关节软骨缺损患者的临床资料。按照外科修复方式分为2组,每组25例。骨软骨移植组患者采用自体骨软骨移植修复膝关节软骨缺损;微骨折组患者运用微骨折方法修复膝关节软骨缺损。两组患者均随访超过24个月,比较两组患者的膝关节美国特种外科医院(Hospital for Special Surgery,HSS)评分及临床疗效,观察两组患者不良反应和并发症。 结果与结论：骨软骨移植组患者的膝关节HSS评分> 85分和60-85分患者数量明显多于微骨折组(P < 0.05),骨软骨移植组总有效率显著高于微骨折组(92%,60.0%,P < 0.05)。两组患者均无并发症发生。结果表明骨软骨移植在关节软骨缺损治疗中较微骨折具有较好的实施效果。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程全文链接：     

掺锶复合PVA/生物活性玻璃水凝胶的制备及其体外软骨修复性能研究

目的研究以聚乙烯醇(PVA)、生物活性玻璃(BG)及氯化锶为主要原料,制备的PVA水凝胶、PVA/生物活性玻璃水凝胶、掺锶复合PVA/生物活性玻璃水凝胶的可降解性能、离子释放性能和促软骨修复性能。方法PVA溶液与BG溶胶凝胶溶液在加热搅拌下生成PB水凝胶,PVA溶液与Sr-BG溶胶凝胶溶液加热搅拌生成PBSr水凝胶,将PB和PB-Sr水凝胶浸泡于磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)中,研究其体外降解性能、离子释放性能和结构变化。在水凝胶上培养软骨细胞,经细胞增殖能力实验和细胞荧光染色观察细胞增殖情况。结果 PB和PB-Sr水凝胶在PBS溶液中逐渐降解,28 d后PB水凝胶降解率为25%,PB-Sr水凝胶降解率为16%,水凝胶表面均有羟基磷灰石形成。细胞实验结果显示培养7 d后PB-Sr水凝胶的OD值为0.76±0.04,PB水凝胶的OD值为0.52±0.02,均显著高于对照组,PVA水凝胶的OD值0.45±0.04,差异具有统计学意义(0.05)。结论该掺锶复合PVA/生物活性玻璃水凝胶具有良好的降解性能和离子释放性能,能有效促进软骨细胞增殖。     

Nitric oxide enhances cyclooxygenase activity in articular cartilage

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small messenger molecule synthesized by a family of enzymes, the nitric oxide synthases. Cyclooxygenases are a group of proinflammatory enzymes that release prostaglandins including prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Both nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase are involved in the inflammatory cascade of arthritis. However, the relationship between these two enzymes and their products has not been explored in articular cartilage. Here we show that in cultured bovine chondrocytes and explants of human osteoarthritic cartilage both nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase activities were induced by the inflammatory mediators, lipopolysaccharide, and interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-. When nitric oxide synthase activity was inhibited, PGE₂, synthesis was inhibited. NO donors also induced PGE₂ synthesis and NO scavengers inhibited cyclooxygenase activity. Taken together, these results support the concept that PGE₂ synthesis is directly related to NO formation and that NO may modulate cyclooxygenase activity in articular cartilage.accepted by W. B. van den BergFinalist in the 1995 Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the 1995 Otto Burgdorf Competition, and the 1995 St. Johns New York Symposium.     

自体、异体骨软骨移植及组织工程材料修复的关节软骨损伤

背景：关节软骨损伤的修复已成为近年来医学基础研究的一个重要领域。由于关节软骨损伤后不易修复,决定了关节软骨损伤的修复是热点中的难点。目的：概述能够对关节软骨损伤进行修复和功能重建的生物材料,为选择理想的组织工程支架材料提供一种理论上的选择。方法：由第一作者通过计算机检索1989到2014年PubMed数据库和中国知网数据库。英文检索词为“articular cartilage injury,bone graft,tissue engineering scaffold materials”,中文检索词为“关节软骨损伤、骨移植、组织工程支架材料”。检索近年来关于关节软骨的结构和功能、不同关节软骨损伤修复材料的选择及修复过程中影响因素等方面的相关文献,针对目前软骨损伤修复材料的应用作一个较系统的回顾及总结,分别对软骨修复材料各自优缺点进行综合评述,从材料学的视角介绍了几种软骨修复材料在软骨组织工程支架中的应用情况,在此基础上对临床软骨损伤修复提供一种理论上的选择。结果与结论：常用的软骨修复材料包括自体、异体骨软骨移植材料,胶原、透明质酸钠和壳聚糖等天然高分子材料。自体、异体骨软骨移植的修复方法只能暂时的缓解疼痛,修复组织容易发生退变,都不能成功修复损伤软骨,与这些已经投入临床的技术相比,尚处在实验研究阶段的组织工程学技术的临床研究仍在不断进行,在众多关节软骨修复材料中,无论是自体移植材料还是组织工程支架材料其生物力学性能各有不同,且目前还无法再造与天然生成的软骨具有相同力学性能的软骨组织。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程     

组织工程支架材料修复关节软骨缺损

BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage repair has been a difficulty in the clinical setting, which is mainly treated with autologous or allogeneic osteochondral grafts, and cartilage periosteum or periosteum grafts. However, the limited source, secondary lesion and immunological rejection force some researchers to search for a novel treatment strategy, cartilage tissue engineering, that is of great significance for cartilage regeneration and repair. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the tissue-engineered scaffolds for the repair of articular cartilage defects. METHODS: The first author searched the PubMed and WanFang databases for the articles addressing tissue-engineered cartilage for articular cartilage defects published between 1991 and 2015 using the keywords “articular cartilage defect, scaffold, tissue engineered cartilage” in English and Chinese, respectively. The irrelative and repetitive literatures were excluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Finally 48 eligible literatures were enrolled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cartilage tissue engineering possesses the advantages of controllability, little damage to tissue itself, and biological repair of injured cartilage. Tissue-engineered scaffold material is a critical factor in tissue engineering construction; therefore, it should hold biodegradability and histocompatibility. The commonly used scaffold materials include natural macromolecule materials (collagen, silk fibroin and chitosan), and synthetic polymer materials (polylactic acid and tricalcium phosphate). It is necessary to prepare composite scaffolds with high bioactivity integrate advantages of each material. The tissue engineering is bound to be a hotspot in the field of articular cartilage repair.      

Observations on the senescence of cells derived from articular cartilage

In the experiments described here, we have sought to determine whether primary cultures of cells derived from articular cartilage will, upon subsequent subculture, undergo in vitro senescence in a manner analogous to that described for several other types of diploid cell. Using cells from the articular cartilage of rabbits, dogs and man, we have established that the population doubling capacity of cultures of these cells is directly related to the specific lifespan of the donor organism. Furthermore, the doubling capacity of the initial cultures of lapine articular chondrocytes is inversely related to the age of the donor rabbit. By these criteria, serially passaged primary cultures of cells derived from articular cartilage appear, a priori, to be a valid system for studies of cellular ageing. Monolayer cultures of lapine chondrocytes appear to "dedifferentiate" after several passages. However, the same cells can be grown as clones, under which conditions they appear to retain better their differentiated properties. Even under these circumstances, lapine articular chondrocytes have a limited capacity for growth, which can be calculated to approximate to the same average number of cell divisions as undergone by monolayer cultures. Lapine chondrocytes frequently transform into established lines of fibroblastic cells. Transformation of canine chondrocytes was more rare, while human chondrocytes have not been observed to transform. This suggests that resistance to transformation is somehow related to lifespan. In addition to furthering our understanding of cellular ageing, studies of the senescence of articular chondrocytes could provide new insights into the aetiology of primary osteoarthritis.     

Chondrocyte and mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for cartilage repair in osteoarthritis and related orthopaedic conditions

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a final and common pathway for all major traumatic insults to synovial joints. OA is the most common form of degenerative joint disease and a major cause of pain and disability. Despite the global increase in the incidence of OA, there are no effective pharmacotherapies capable of restoring the original structure and function of damaged articular cartilage. Consequently cell-based and biological therapies for osteoarthritis (OA) and related orthopaedic disorders have become thriving areas of research and development. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has been used for treatment of osteoarticular lesions for over two decades. Although chondrocyte-based therapy has the capacity to slow down the progression of OA and delay partial or total joint replacement surgery, currently used procedures are associated with the risk of serious adverse events. Complications of ACI include hypertrophy, disturbed fusion, delamination, and graft failure. Therefore there is significant interest in improving the success rate of ACI by improving surgical techniques and preserving the phenotype of the primary chondrocytes used in the procedure. Future tissue-engineering approaches for cartilage repair will also benefit from advances in chondrocyte-based repair strategies. This review article focuses on the structure and function of articular cartilage and the pathogenesis of OA in the context of the rising global burden of musculoskeletal disease. We explore the challenges associated with cartilage repair and regeneration using cell-based therapies that use chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This paper also explores common misconceptions associated with cell-based therapy and highlights a few areas for future investigation.     

A three-dimensional osteochondral composite scaffold for articular cartilage repair

There is a recognized and urgent need for improved treatment of articular cartilage defects. Tissue engineering of cartilage using a cell-scaffold approach has demonstrated potential to offer an alternative and effective method for treating articular defects. We have developed a unique, heterogeneous, osteochondral scaffold using the TheriForm three-dimensional printing process. The material composition, porosity, macroarchitecture, and mechanical properties varied throughout the scaffold structure. The upper, cartilage region was 90% porous and composed of D,L-PLGA/L-PLA, with macroscopic staggered channels to facilitate homogenous cell seeding. The lower, cloverleaf-shaped bone portion was 55% porous and consisted of a L-PLGA/TCP composite, designed to maximize bone ingrowth while maintaining critical mechanical properties. The transition region between these two sections contained a gradient of materials and porosity to prevent delamination. Chondrocytes preferentially attached to the cartilage portion of the device, and biochemical and histological analyses showed that cartilage formed during a 6-week in vitro culture period. The tensile strength of the bone region was similar in magnitude to fresh cancellous human bone, suggesting that these scaffolds have desirable mechanical properties for in vivo applications, including full joint replacement.     

Hydrogels for the repair of articular cartilage defects

The repair of articular cartilage defects remains a significant challenge in orthopedic medicine. Hydrogels, three-dimensional polymer networks swollen in water, offer a unique opportunity to generate a functional cartilage substitute. Hydrogels can exhibit similar mechanical, swelling, and lubricating behavior to articular cartilage, and promote the chondrogenic phenotype by encapsulated cells. Hydrogels have been prepared from naturally derived and synthetic polymers, as cell-free implants and as tissue engineering scaffolds, and with controlled degradation profiles and release of stimulatory growth factors. Using hydrogels, cartilage tissue has been engineered in vitro that has similar mechanical properties to native cartilage. This review summarizes the advancements that have been made in determining the potential of hydrogels to replace damaged cartilage or support new tissue formation as a function of specific design parameters, such as the type of polymer, degradation profile, mechanical properties and loading regimen, source of cells, cell-seeding density, controlled release of growth factors, and strategies to cause integration with surrounding tissue. Some key challenges for clinical translation remain, including limited information on the mechanical properties of hydrogel implants or engineered tissue that are necessary to restore joint function, and the lack of emphasis on the ability of an implant to integrate in a stable way with the surrounding tissue. Future studies should address the factors that affect these issues, while using clinically relevant cell sources and rigorous models of repair.     

微骨折加骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗膝关节软骨损伤

背景：如何利用组织工程学的方法促进膝关节软骨修复及缩短病程成为关节外科亟需解决的问题,而微骨折加干细胞移植疗法有可能为其开辟一条新的道路。目的：探讨关节镜下微骨折加自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗膝关节软骨损伤的可行性。方法：2010年10月至2012年3月收治的膝关节软骨损伤患者16例,男12例,女4例;左膝11例、右膝5例;年龄16-52岁,平均38.6岁;所有病例软骨缺损均获得关节镜证实。治疗前2周抽取自体骨髓,分离骨髓间充质干细胞并行体外培养扩增,获取干细胞培养液3-5 mL(约10⁷个细胞)。膝关节镜下清理后微骨折尖锥于软骨缺损区钻孔,造成局部微骨折,排尽关节腔内积液,行微切口置入止血纱布贴覆软骨创面,注入制备好的骨髓间充质干细胞,弹力绷带加压包扎,早期CPM机锻炼。结果与结论：随访4-18个月,显效13例,有效2例,无效1例。Lysholm膝关节评分治疗前为42分(33-67分),治疗4周后为89分(75-99分),平均提高47分,随访均未出现症状反复和加重。结果可见关节镜下微骨折加自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植有效治疗膝关节软骨损伤,显著改善患者膝关节症状及恢复膝关节功能。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

生长因子在关节软骨损伤修复中的应用进展

关节是人体重要的运动器官,其组织结构特殊,成熟关节软骨组织没有血供,一旦损伤难以自愈.临床上常用的关节软骨损伤修复手段有微骨裂术、关节软骨移植、关节置换术、软骨组织工程等,但这些方法的修复效果都不理想.生长因子是体内组织分泌的一种具有生物活性的物质,可促进细胞生长、增殖、迁移和分化.软骨发育过程中有许多生长因子参与,如成纤维细胞生长因子(FGF)、骨形态发生蛋白(BMP)、胰岛素样生长因子(IGF)等.研究显示,在关节软骨修复过程中加入外源性生长因子可有效促进关节软骨损伤的修复.对目前应用于关节软骨损伤修复研究中的生长因子进行综述,讨论这些生长因子在关节软骨发育及其在关节软骨修复中的作用,分析生长因子在关节软骨修复应用中存在的问题.     

骨髓间充质干细胞复合多肽凝胶及成软骨生成因子修复兔关节软骨缺损

背景：多肽水凝胶因为其具有良好的可塑型性,能够与损伤部位很好的无缝隙结合,所以采用该材料作为支架是骨、软骨组织工程中一种可行的探索。 目的：骨髓间充质干细胞联合新型可注射多肽凝胶及成软骨生成因子修复兔关节软骨缺损,观察其修复效果。 方法：首先分离培养兔骨髓间充质干细胞,兔左侧膝关节处制备直径5 mm,深3 mm的全层骨-软骨缺损模型;右侧造模后空置作为对照。实验分为3组,单纯自组装多肽凝胶移植组,自组装多肽凝胶+成软骨因子组和自组装多肽凝胶+成软骨因子+骨髓间充质干细胞组。采用的成软骨因子包括转化生长因子β1,地塞米松和胰岛素样生长因子1,三者混合后加入到自组装多肽凝胶或骨髓间充质干细胞中。于处理后12周时处死动物行大体及组织学观察、X射线摄片、免疫组织化学法进行组织学评分评估修复情况。 结果与结论：单纯自组装多肽凝胶移植在12周后显示出非常好的修复效果,可见番红O染色,Ⅱ型胶原蛋白免疫组织化学染色强度以及组织学评分明显高于其他组(P < 0.05)。自组装多肽凝胶+成软骨因子组修复效果较好,与自组装多肽凝胶组相似,但其修复区域蛋白聚糖表达比对照组明显升高(P < 0.01)。自组装多肽凝胶+成软骨因子+骨髓间充质干细胞组修复效果不佳,12周未能完全修复缺损区域,与单纯自组装多肽凝胶组比较骨赘的形成有所增加。结果表明,单纯自组装多肽凝胶能够在原位修复骨软骨缺损并促进软骨修复,提示以自组装多肽凝胶支架移植有望提高目前修复软骨缺损的效果。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

膝关节软骨早期缺损修复中的基质金属蛋白酶3抑制剂Ⅰ

BACKGROUND: The biomechanical properties of naturally regenerated damaged articular cartilage that belongs to the fibrovascular tissue are far worse than those of the normal cartilage so that they cannot meet the requirements for joint function, leading to traumatic arthritis and loss of joint function.     

关节软骨的修复与修复失败

文题释义： 自体软骨细胞移植：对于3.5-10 cm2的软骨缺损或多个缺损来说,自体软骨细胞移植是一种有效的软骨修复措施,取少量患者自体软骨于体外培养软骨细胞,并增殖到一定数量后植入软骨缺损处,从而达到修复缺损的目的。 基质诱导的自体软骨细胞移植：把经培养增殖后的软骨细胞接种到Ⅰ/Ⅲ型双层胶原膜上,继续培养数日,细胞与支架结合紧密之后,使用生物蛋白胶粘贴到关节软骨缺损病灶底部。术后,软骨细胞从胶原膜上游离并穿过生物胶,迁徙到软骨缺损的基底部。胶原膜和生物胶逐步降解并被吸收。接种的软骨细胞在局部生长、繁殖,并分泌基质,形成新的软骨组织修复缺损。背景：由于关节软骨具有复杂的生物学特性和高度的耐用性,自然退变或创伤引起的缺损都可能导致其结构和功能上不可逆的损害,因此关节软骨损伤后的修复治疗是临床上急需解决的问题。 目的：报告关节软骨修复技术失败最常见的危险因素及其发生率,分析影响选择特定手术治疗方法来处理软骨修复失败最重要的因素。 方法：以“articular cartilage, repair, clinic/clinical failure, surgery”为检索词,检索 PubMed和MEDLINE数据库,时限为2007至2019年,语言限制为英文。初检得到文献约343篇,根据纳入排出标准筛选,共纳入38篇文章进行分析。 结果与结论：①微骨折术和软骨镶嵌成形术在关节软骨修复后的前期和中期显示出不可忽视的失败率,而使用自体软骨细胞移植和异体骨软骨移植修复关节软骨的效果更好。②对于软骨修复失败的治疗：在以往软骨修复失败的患者中应用异体骨软骨移植可能是一个安全的选择,但对于失败的异体骨软骨移植的修复则有更高的失败率;而既往自体软骨细胞移植或基质诱导的自体软骨细胞移植失败的患者,经进一步的自体软骨细胞移植或基质诱导的自体软骨细胞移植治疗后,其治疗效果是可以接受的。此外,有软骨下骨髓刺激病史的患者,自体软骨细胞移植的失败率更高。③软骨修复失败的处理取决于手术治疗失败的类型以及软骨缺损的面积、部位的不同,异体骨软骨移植是治疗软骨下骨髓刺激患者软骨修复失败的最可靠的方法,而自体软骨细胞移植或基质诱导的自体软骨细胞移植在既往软骨修复失败的患者中显示出可以接受的治疗效果,在处理软骨修复失败的患者时,应该特别注意软骨下骨质的情况。ORCID: 0000-0002-3907-9145(张宇) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

低强度脉冲式超声对关节软骨的修复

BACKGROUND: Articular cartilage injuries can result from a variety of causes. Conventional therapy cannot obtain the optimal clinical results. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound has been shown to promote the repair of injured articular cartilage. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on the repair of injured articular cartilage. METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were used to establish knee arthritis models and equally randomized into study and control groups, respectively. Rabbits in the study group received low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment, and sham low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment was given in the control group. At 8 weeks after treatment, pathological change and histological scores in articular cartilage tissue collected from both groups were determined. Moreover, the ultrastructure and type II collagen expression of chondrocytes were determined. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 8 weeks after treatment, toluidine blue staining showed a disordered arrangement of cells, decreased number of cartilage cells in each layer and cluster in the control group. Light disordered arrangement of cells, decreased appearance of the superficial layer cells and the cluster phenomenon were observed in the study group. Articular cartilage tissue scores were significantly decreased in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The chondrocytes were small, enlarged intracellular mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic swelling, collagen fibrils coarse, well developed Golgi apparatus, and nuclear fragmentation were observed in the control group. In addition, the normal structure of organelles disappeared and cell degeneration was observed in the control group. In the study group, the size of chondrocytes and the Golgi complex and other organelles were normal, and the protein polysaccharide granules were observed in the cytoplasm and membrane. The mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Type II collagen immunoreactivity in the study group was stronger than that in the control group. No incision infection, suppuration, red swelling appeared in all rabbits. Our results suggest that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound can be used for the treatment of articular cartilage injury by alleviating the degradation of collagen type II and inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13. 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程     

Heterogeneous nanomechanical properties of superficial and zonal regions of articular cartilage of the rabbit proximal radius condyle by atomic force microscopy

Articular chondrocytes have been thought to reside in a homogenous matrix. The physical characteristics of the intercellular matrix of articular cartilage are not well characterized, especially at a nanoscopic scale. The present work tested the hypothesis that the nanomechanical properties of the intercellular matrices of articular cartilage in both the articulating surface and various cellular zones are non-homogeneous. Nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy was applied to the geometric center of the medial, lateral and groove regions of the superficial zone of the rabbit proximal radius cartilage, and then the intercellular matrices of chondrocytes from the superficial to calcifying zones in 40 μm increments. The elastic modulus of the articular surface of the medial condyle (1.46±0.11 MPa) was significantly higher than the lateral condyle (1.18±0.10 MPa), and the groove (0.96±0.07 MPa). There is a significant gradient increase in Young’s moduli from the superficial zone (0.52±0.05 MPa) to calcifying zone (1.69±0.12 MPa). Thus, the nanomechanical properties of the intercellular matrices of the articulating surface are region-specific and likely related to articular function. Heterogeneous biophysical properties of intercellular matrices along the depth from the superficial to calcifying zones suggest that chondrocytes likely reside in a heterogeneous matrix.     

聚羟基烷酸酯聚合物负载软骨细胞修复同种异体喉软骨缺损

背景：喉软骨组织缺损发病率较高,患者发病后主要以疼痛、肿胀、功能障碍等为主。目前,临床上对于喉软骨组织损伤更多的以修复手术治疗为主,常规材料虽然能够有效的改善患者症状,但是长期疗效欠佳。近年来,软骨组织工程在临床上研究相对较多,但是在耳鼻咽喉科实际使用相对较多。目的：探讨聚羟基烷酸酯聚合物负载软骨细胞在同种异体喉软骨缺损修复中的效果。方法：将聚羟基丁酸酯与聚羟基己酸酯共聚物材料设为细胞外基质,采用组织工程技术制备细胞-材料复合物,将初级组织工程软骨组织直接移植于兔甲状软骨缺损的修复,或将初级组织工程软骨组织体内植入一定时期形成较成熟组织工程软骨再应用于甲状软骨缺损的修复。实验设单纯聚羟基丁酸酯与聚羟基己酸酯共聚物材料修复组和单纯软骨细胞修复组进行对照,对甲状软骨缺损修复效果进行大体和组织学评价。结果与结论：初级组软骨在电镜扫描下能够看见软骨细胞表现为串珠状,培养4周后能够看见大量胶冻形状的基质。在电子显微镜下进行观察结果显示：细胞分布在复合材料表面和海绵状空隙中,显示多个类圆形小突起;入选新西兰兔均取得手术成功,并且手术后并未出现呼吸困难、进食困难等现象;实验初级组织工程软骨组1只兔出现短暂喘鸣;实验较成熟组织工程软骨组1只动物术后2周死于腹泻。大体测试负载软骨细胞的聚羟基丁酸酯与聚羟基己酸酯共聚物有一定硬度。皮下植入4周后成熟细胞表现为白色片状,材料具有弹性。植入后4,8周两组修复区与原有软骨间光滑平淡,但是修复区域则色发黄。单纯聚羟基丁酸酯与聚羟基己酸酯共聚物材料修复组和单纯软骨细胞修复组修复区均凹陷,仅见结缔组织。实验组兔不良反应发生率显著低于对照组(P < 0.05)。结果证实,聚羟基烷酸酯聚合物负载软骨细胞移植修复同种异体喉软骨缺损效果较好。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程     

The pathology of the end-stage osteoarthritic lesion of the knee: potential role in cartilage repair

The purpose was to explore whether there were any pathological characteristics of the end-stage osteoarthritic sclerotic lesion that have potential to participate in cartilage repair.Specimens harvested following total knee surgery were examined for gross pathology including staining with Safranin O. Multiple small sections of the lesion were placed in tissue culture for 6 weeks. Gross examination and photographic documentation was made at 3 and 6 weeks. At 6 weeks the specimens from culture were subject to histological examination. The pathology of the end-stage osteoarthritic lesion showed sclerotic bone, dead osteons, hypervascularity and scattered cartilaginous aggregates. Additional observations showed multiple pitting on the sclerotic surface, which histologically was related to three events; fragmentation of dead bone, ruptured blood vessels, and eroded aggregates. There were no pathological or biological changes in the specimens following the time in tissue culture.The in-depth pathological evaluation showed the end-stage osteoarthritic lesion to have certain features with potential to facilitate cartilage repair. The cartilaginous aggregates may be a participant in cartilage repair following surgery. The cartilaginous aggregates remained unchanged in the tissue culture absent the normal synovial joint chemical and physical environment and therefore further testing with a different experimental model would be necessary to establish these aggregates as a source of cartilage regeneration. The multiple small depressions in this lesion may have potential to be a “home” for therapeutics.     

Regeneration of ovine articular cartilage defects by cell-free polymer-based implants

The aim of our study was the evaluation of a cell-free cartilage implant that allows the recruitment of mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells by chemo-attractants and subsequent guidance of the progenitors to form cartilage repair tissue after microfracture. Chemotactic activity of human serum on human mesenchymal progenitors was tested in 96-well chemotaxis assays and chondrogenic differentiation was assessed by gene expression profiling after stimulating progenitors with hyaluronan in high-density cultures. Autologous serum and hyaluronan were combined with polyglycolic acid (PGA) scaffolds and were implanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects of the sheep pre-treated with microfracture. Defects treated with microfracture served as controls. Human serum was a potent chemo-attractant and efficiently recruited mesenchymal progenitors. Chondrogenic differentiation of progenitors upon stimulation with hyaluronan was shown by the induction of typical chondrogenic marker genes like type II collagen and aggrecan. Three months after implantation of the cell-free implant, histological analysis documented the formation of a cartilaginous repair tissue. Controls treated with microfracture showed no formation of repair tissue. The cell-free cartilage implant consisting of autologous serum, hyaluronan and PGA utilizes the migration and differentiation potential of mesenchymal progenitors for cartilage regeneration and is well suited for the treatment of cartilage defects after microfracture.