Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, University of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2013 Aug;21(8):1099-107. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2013.04.017. Epub 2013 May 13.
This study aimed to evaluate the structural benefit of a new biomaterial composed of alginate-chitosan (AC) beads dispersed in a hydrogel (H) derived from chitosan on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in rabbit.
OA was induced by the surgical transection of the anterior cruciate ligament in rabbits. Animals received a single intra-articular injection (900 μl) of AC beads in H hydrogel, H hydrogel alone or saline a week after surgery. OA development was followed by X-rays. Blood samples were collected throughout the study to measure biological markers (Prostaglandins E2 - PGE2 and C reactive protein - CRP). Macroscopic observation and histological evaluation of articular cartilage and synovial membrane were performed 6 weeks after surgery.
AC beads in H hydrogel prevented from the development of OA based on the reduction of the Kellgren & Lawrence (K&L) score. It also significantly reduced the histological score of cartilage lesion severity. This effect was homogenous on every joint compartment. It was due to a significant effect on cartilage structure and cellularity scores. The injection of AC beads in H hydrogel also tended to reduce the synovial membrane inflammation. No significant variation of biological markers was noted.
The present pilot study provides interesting and promising results for the use of AC beads in H hydrogel in animal. It indeed prevented the development of OA cartilage lesions without inflammatory signs. The potencies of this biomaterial to protect OA joint should be further documented. It could then represent a new alternative for viscosupplementation in human OA management.
本研究旨在评估一种新型生物材料的结构优势，该生物材料由海藻酸钠-壳聚糖（AC）珠分散在壳聚糖衍生的水凝胶（H）中组成，用于兔骨关节炎（OA）的发展。
OA 通过兔前交叉韧带的手术横断诱导。动物在手术后一周内接受单次关节内注射（900 μl）AC 珠在 H 水凝胶、H 水凝胶或生理盐水。通过 X 射线跟踪 OA 的发展。在整个研究过程中收集血液样本以测量生物标志物（前列腺素 E2-PGE2 和 C 反应蛋白-CRP）。手术后 6 周进行关节软骨和滑膜的宏观观察和组织学评估。
AC 珠在 H 水凝胶中的存在可根据 Kellgren & Lawrence（K&L）评分的降低来预防 OA 的发展。它还显著降低了软骨病变严重程度的组织学评分。这种效果在每个关节间隙都是均匀的。这是由于对软骨结构和细胞分数的显著影响。H 水凝胶中 AC 珠的注射也倾向于减少滑膜膜炎症。未观察到生物标志物的显著变化。
本初步研究为在动物中使用 AC 珠在 H 水凝胶中提供了有趣且有前途的结果。它确实预防了 OA 软骨病变的发展，没有炎症迹象。这种生物材料保护 OA 关节的潜力应进一步记录。然后，它可以代表人类 OA 管理中粘性补充的新替代方案。
