Fibronectin‐coated polyurethane meniscal scaffolding supplemented with MSCs improves scaffold integration and proteoglycan production in a rabbit model

Abstract

AbstractPurposeThe role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in supporting the formation of new meniscal tissue in a meniscal scaffold is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the meniscal tissue produced in a fibronectin (FN)‐coated polyurethane (PU) meniscal scaffold after a meniscal injury was made in an experimental rabbit model.MethodsTwelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in two groups after performing a medial meniscectomy of the anterior horn. In group 1, the meniscal defect was reconstructed with a non‐MSC supplemented FN‐coated PU scaffold. On the other hand, the same scaffold supplemented with MSCs was used in group 2. The animals were sacrificed at 12 week after index surgery. A modified scoring system was used for histological assessment. This new scoring (ranging from 0 to 15) includes a structural evaluation (meniscal scaffold interface and extracellular matrix production) and tissue quality evaluation (proteoglycan and type I‐collagen content).ResultsThe meniscal scaffold was found loose in the joint in three cases, corresponding to two cases in group 1 and 1 case in group 2. No differences were observed between the groups in terms of the total score (7.0 ± 0.9 vs. 9.4 ± 2.6, p = 0.09). However, differences were observed in group 2 in which 2 out of the 5 scored items, scaffold integration (1 ± 0.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.03) and proteoglycan production (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.001). A trend to a higher production of Type I‐Collagen production was also observed in group 2 (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.7, p = 0.05).ConclusionIn a rabbit model at 12 weeks, the adhesion of MSCs to a FN‐coated PU scaffold improves scaffold integration, proteoglycan production and the characteristics of the new meniscal‐like tissue obtained when compared to a non‐supplemented scaffold. This fact could be a major step toward improving the adhesion of the MSCs to meniscal scaffolds and, consequently, the obtention of better quality meniscal tissue.