School of Engineering and Materials Science
Research Student Roll of Honours
PhD Thesis: Evaluation of novel polymer for articular cartilage repair
Author: SALIH, Vehid
Year: 1998
Supervisor(s): Dan Bader, David Lee
This thesis describes both the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of three biomaterials as potential candidates for the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects. The biomaterials were synthesised from naturally occurring products. BiopolŪ was synthesised from a polymer produced by micro-organisms. CollastatŪ and GelfoamŪ, both collagen sponges, were derived from animal tissues.
Bovine and lapine articular chondrocytes were seeded onto the biomaterials and maintained in vitro. The cell-seeded biomaterials, known as constructs, were evaluated by light microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and biochemical assays. Results indicated that all three materials could maintain both bovine and lapine chondrocytes up to one month.
Lapine allogenic articular chondrocytes were seeded onto 3mm diameter plugs of BiopolŪ and CollastatŪ, maintained in vitro for 7 days. Both seeded constructs and non-seeded controls of each material were then implanted into the knees of mature New Zealand White rabbits. Implant periods were 1,3 and 6 months. All control defects demonstrated progressive repair and hypertrophic chondrocytes were observed in this tissue. In addition, seeded implants generally produced a more organised repair architecture. In some cases, a zonal arrangement was observed. After 6 months implantation, there was evidence of degeneration of repair tissue. There was no discernible difference between the repair tissue produced by either material over the implantation period.
The results described in this thesis indicate that allogenic chrondrocyte transplantation using biomaterial constructs may be a suitable method for treating osteochondral lesions in articular cartilage.