Propiedad biomecánica del neotejido cartilaginoso sintetizado por condrocitos sembrados en matriz allogénica desvitalizada

The present study analyzes the biomechanical properties of neo-cartilaginous tissue, synthesized by chondrocytes seeded onto allogeneic matrix. Cartilage tissue was harvested from young lambs joints, shaped into discs, which were devitalized by freeze/thaw cycles. Articular chondrocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured for three weeks with the devitalized discs. Pairs of seeded discs were assembled together, wrapped into a fibrin glue, and transplanted into subcutaneous pockets of nude mice. Animals were sacrificed at 1 and 4 weeks from implantation. Samples were evaluated by macroscopic and histological analysis and by biomechanical test. Results from the present study demonstrated significant difference in values of tensile strength, fracture strain, fracture energy and modulus between the experimental samples and the controls, which were made of devitalized discs, cultured in absence of cells. Histological evaluation demonstrated that seeded chondrocytes allowed adhesion of devitalized discs by synthesis of newly formed cartilaginous tissue.