Karami Peyman, Martin Robin, Laurent Alexis, Nam Hui Yin, Philippe Virginie, Applegate Lee Ann, Pioletti Dominique P
Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopaedics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gels. 2024 Oct 14;10(10):657. doi: 10.3390/gels10100657.
Knee cartilage has limited natural healing capacity, complicating the development of effective treatment plans. Current non-cell-based therapies (e.g., microfracture) result in poor repair cartilage mechanical properties, low durability, and suboptimal tissue integration. Advanced treatments, such as autologous chondrocyte implantation, face challenges including cell leakage and inhomogeneous distribution. Successful cell therapy relies on prolonged retention of therapeutic biologicals at the implantation site, yet the optimal integration of implanted material into the surrounding healthy tissue remains an unmet need. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a newly developed photo-curable adhesive hydrogel for cartilage repair, focusing on adhesion properties, integration performance, and ability to support tissue regeneration. The proposed hydrogel design exhibited significant adhesion strength, outperforming commercial adhesives such as fibrin-based glues. An in vivo goat model was used to evaluate the hydrogels' adhesion properties and long-term integration into full-thickness cartilage defects over six months. Results showed that cell-free hydrogel-treated defects achieved superior integration with surrounding tissue and enhanced cartilage repair, with notable lateral integration. In vitro results further demonstrated high cell viability, robust matrix production, and successful cell encapsulation within the hydrogel matrix. These findings highlight the potential of adhesive hydrogel formulations to improve the efficacy of cell-based therapies, offering a potentially superior treatment for knee cartilage defects.
膝关节软骨的自然愈合能力有限，这使得制定有效的治疗方案变得复杂。目前基于非细胞的疗法（如微骨折）导致修复软骨的力学性能较差、耐久性低且组织整合不理想。先进的治疗方法，如自体软骨细胞植入，面临包括细胞渗漏和分布不均等挑战。成功的细胞治疗依赖于治疗性生物制剂在植入部位的长期留存，但植入材料与周围健康组织的最佳整合仍是未满足的需求。本研究评估了一种新开发的用于软骨修复的光固化粘性水凝胶的有效性，重点关注其粘附特性、整合性能以及支持组织再生的能力。所提出的水凝胶设计表现出显著的粘附强度，优于诸如纤维蛋白基胶水等商业粘合剂。使用体内山羊模型评估水凝胶在六个月内的粘附特性以及其与全层软骨缺损的长期整合情况。结果表明，经无细胞水凝胶处理的缺损与周围组织实现了更好的整合，并增强了软骨修复，具有显著的侧向整合。体外结果进一步证明了高细胞活力、强大的基质产生以及在水凝胶基质内成功封装细胞。这些发现突出了粘性水凝胶制剂改善基于细胞疗法疗效的潜力，为膝关节软骨缺损提供了一种潜在的更优治疗方法。
