Osteochondral regeneration using constructs of mesenchymal stem cells made by bio three-dimensional printing in mini-pigs.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Osteoarthritis is a major joint disease that has been extensively investigated in humans and in model animals. In this study, we examined the regeneration of articular cartilage and subchondral bone using artificial scaffold-free constructs composed of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) created using bio three-dimensional (3D) printing with a needle-array. Printed constructs were implanted into osteochondral defects created in the right femoral trochlear groove of six mini-pigs, using femoral defects created in the left femurs as controls. Repair within the defects was evaluated at 3 and 6 months post-implantation using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The radiolucent volume (RV, mm 3 ) in the defects was calculated using multi-planar reconstruction of CT images. MR images were evaluated based on a modified 2D- MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) grading system. Gross and microscopic pathology were scored according to the ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) scale at 6 months after implantation. The percentage RV at 3 months postoperation was significantly lower in the implanted defects than in the controls, whereas total scores based on the MOCART system were significantly higher in the implanted defects as compared with the controls. Although there were no statistical differences in the

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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