Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-75dct Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-22T09:29:54.243Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Tissue Engineering Approach to Ligament Reconstruction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Michael G. Dunn ,
J. B. Liesch ,
M. L. Tiku ,
S. H. Maxian  and
J. P. Zawadsky
Michael G. Dunn
Affiliation:
Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
J. B. Liesch
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
M. L. Tiku
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
S. H. Maxian
Affiliation:
Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
J. P. Zawadsky
Affiliation:
Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Get access

Abstract

Previous studies in our laboratory showed that acellular collagen scaffold implants induce tissue ingrowth and perform similar to autografts following reconstruction of rabbit Achilles tendon or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We chronologically review these and related studies, and report preliminary development of fibroblast-seeded collagen scaffolds potentially useful for ACL reconstruction. The ‘healing potential’ of fibroblasts was measured within collagen scaffolds in vitro, as a function of fibroblast source. Aligned collagen scaffolds were seeded with fibroblasts from rabbit ACL, synovium, patellar tendon, or skin. Fibroblast viability, adherence, spreading, proliferation, and protein and collagen deposition were measured on collagen scaffolds. The fibroblasts attached to the scaffolds, and spread along the long axis of the collagen fibers. ACL fibroblasts adhered better than other fibroblast types; however, the ACL fibroblasts proliferated at the slowest rate. Patellar tendon fibroblasts proliferated at the most rapid rate. All four of the fibroblast types secreted protein and collagen within the collagen scaffolds.

Preliminary in vivo studies suggest that fibroblasts seeded onto collagen scaffolds can remain viable following reimplantation into the donor rabbit. Ongoing studies will elucidate the role of autogenous seeded fibroblasts in neoligament formation/remodeling. These ‘ligament analogs’ are potentially useful for clinical ACL reconstruction: fibroblasts would be obtained from biopsy, cultured, seeded onto a collagen scaffold, and implanted as an ACL substitute into the same patient.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 331: Symposium T – Biomaterials for Drug and Cell Delivery , 1993 , 13
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Dunn, M.G., “Biomechanics of Ligament Reconstruction,” Chapter 13 in Ligaments of the Knee, A.J. Tria, Jr., editor, Churchill Livingstone, New York, New York, in press.Google Scholar
2. Dunn, M.G. and Maxian, S.H., “Biomaterials Used in Orthopaedic Surgery,” Chapter 13 in Implantation Biology: The Host Response and Biomedical Devices. Greco, R.S., editor, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (1994).Google Scholar
3. Silver, F.H., Tria, A.J., Zawadsky, J.P., and Dunn, M.G., “Anterior cruciate ligament replacement: A review,” J. Long-Term Effects of Med. Impl., 1, 135–154 (1991).Google Scholar
4. Wasserman, A.J., Kato, Y.P., Christiansen, D., Dunn, M.G., and Silver, F.H., “Achilles tendon replacement by a collagen fiber prosthesis: Morphological evaluation of neotendon formation,” Scanning Microscopy, III, 1183–1200 (1989).Google Scholar
5. Kato, Y.P., Dunn, M.G., Zawadsky, J.P., Tria, A.J., and Silver, F.H., “Regeneration of Achilles tendon with a collagen tendon prosthesis: Results of a one year implantation study,” J. Bone Jt. Surg., 73A, 561–574 (1991).Google Scholar
6. Dunn, M.G., Tria, A.J., Bechler, J.R., Ochner, R.S., Zawadsky, J.P., Kato, Y.P., and Silver, F.H., “Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a composite collagenous prosthesis. A biomechanical and histologic study in rabbits,” Am. J. Sports Med., 20, 507–515 (1992).Google Scholar
7. Dunn, M.G., Maxian, S.H., and Zawadsky, J.P., “Intraosseous incorporation of composite collagen prostheses designed for ligament reconstruction,” J. Orthop. Res., 12(1) (1994).Google Scholar
8. Dunn, M.G., Avasarala, P.N., and Zawadsky, J.P., “Optimization of extruded collagen fibers for ACL reconstruction,” J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 27, 1545–1552 (1993).Google Scholar
9. Dunn, M.G., Bellincampi, L.D., Kopacz, K.J., Tria, A.J., Brennan, R.F., and Zawadsky, J.P., “Development of a resorbable scaffold for ACL reconstruction: Reconstituted collagen fibers in a PLA polymer matrix,” Trans. 39th Annual Mtng. - Orthop. Res. Soc., 18, 334 (1993).Google Scholar
10. Dunn, M.G., Liesch, J.B., Tiku, M., Maxian, S.H., and Zawadsky, J.P., “Fibroblast-seeded autograft analogues for ACL regeneration,” Trans. 19th Annual Mtng. Soc. for Biomaterials, 16, 290 (1993).Google Scholar