The morphology and biomechanical characteristics of subcutaneously implanted tissue-engineered human septal cartilage

The purpose of the study was to examine the morphology and biomechanical characteristics of in vivo cultured tissue-engineered human septal cartilage as a prospective autogenous transplant material for subcutaneous implantation in reconstructive procedures. Chondrocytes were enzymatically isolated from human septal cartilage biopsies. The cell number was expanded in monolayer culture. Chondrocytes were then fixed on a non-woven poly-lactide-poly-glycolide (PGLA) polymer scaffold by means of fibrin glue. The PGLA-polymer construct was implanted subcutaneously on the back of athymic mice and allowed to mature for 6 or 12 weeks. After killing the mice, the formed cartilage was tested on a material testing machine with a highly standardized reproducible setting. Biomechanical testing consisted of an indentation test, which revealed the failure load and compressive modulus of the neocartilage. The failure load shows the upper limit of supported stress. The compressive modulus is a measure of the templates’ stiffness. After testing, the templates were histologically stained. Native human septal cartilage served as a control group. Histological and macroscopic examination showed cartilage formation of a hyaline-like morphology. Histological staining revealed the synthesis of abundant mucopolysaccharid matrix. The biomechanical characteristics of neocartilage proved to be of no statistical difference compared to native human septal cartilage. The failure load and compressive modulus were initially somewhat lower and reached the control group’s results after 12 weeks in-vivo. Summarizing, tissue engineered nasal cartilage matches typical mechanical characteristics of native hyaline cartilage. Its elasticity and failure load are of sufficient quality to meet the clinical requirements for reconstructive surgery.