A new composite scaffold containing type I collagen, hyaluronan, and fibrin was prepared with and without autologous chondrocytes and implanted into a rabbit femoral trochlea. The biophysical properties of the composite scaffold were similar to native cartilage. The macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical analysis of the regenerated tissue from cell-seeded scaffolds was performed 6 weeks after the implantation and predominantly showed formation of hyaline cartilage accompanied by production of glycosaminoglycans and type II collagen with minor fibro-cartilage production. Implanted scaffolds without cells healed predominantly as fibro-cartilage, although glycosaminoglycans and type II collagen, which form hyaline cartilage, were also observed. On the other hand, fibro-cartilage or fibrous tissue or both were only formed in the defects without scaffold. The new composite scaffold containing collagen type I, hyaluronan, and fibrin, seeded with autologous chondrocytes and implanted into rabbit femoral trochlea, was found to be highly effective in cartilage repair after only 6 weeks. The new composite scaffold can therefore enhance cartilage regeneration of osteochondral defects, by the supporting of the hyaline cartilage formation.

Department of Tissue Engineering Institute of Experimental Medicine Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic