Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (21): 3065-3070.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.21.004

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A calcified biomimetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering in the treatment of martial arts-induced ankle injury

Chen Hui-peng, Liu Ling-na   

  1. Chengdu Sport Institute, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • Received:2016-03-19 Online:2016-05-20 Published:2016-05-20
  • Contact: Chen Hui-peng, Chengdu Sport Institute, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • About author:Chen Hui-peng, Master, Chengdu Sport Institute, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the Scientific Research Fund of Sichuan Provincial Education Bureau, No. A20150201

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In sports or in daily life, damage due to sudden power, especially due to non-physiological release, is commonly seen. For example, during basketball, soccer, rugby, or martial arts movement, oppositional and explosive movements result in a higher incidence of ankle injuries. While conventional methods can improve symptoms, the long-term efficacy is unsatisfactory, accompanied by a higher incidence of complications that are likely to cause secondary damage.

OBJECTIVE: To prepare a calcified biomimetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering and to observe the therapeutic effect of this scaffold on martial arts-induced ankle injuries.
METHODS: Eighty patients with martial arts-induced ankle injury were selected from Chengdu Sport Institute between December 2014 and December 2015. These patients were randomly assigned to control group with drug treatment and biomimetic scaffold group with calcified biomimetic scaffold implantation (n=40 per group). Acellular suspension prepared by goat cartilage was used to make cartilage tissue blocks with a calcified layer with a diameter of 8 mm in a prechilled abrasive apparatus. Then, the calcified biomimetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering was prepared using lyophilization and chemical crosslinking methods.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Osteochondral tissues were partially hyalinized on the surface with the presence of osteochondral calcified layer. The hyalinized cartilage was white in color, the calcified layer existed between normal osteochondral tissues, and the subchondral bone was considered as the cancellous bone. Then the calcified layer was stained using hematoxylin-eosin. We found that cartilage cells in the calcified layer were basically removed, forming “empty nests” one by one. But the structure of bone cartilage in the tissue block, the calcified layer and the subchondral bone retained well. For pain assessment, visual analog scale scores were detected and showed no difference between two groups prior to treatment (P > 0.05), but became significantly higher in the biomimetic scaffold than the control group at 1 and 4 weeks after treatment (P < 0.05). Besides, the biomimetic scaffold exhibited better therapeutic efficacy than the drug treatment (P < 0.05). Overall, this study successfully prepare the calcified biomimetic scaffold for bone tissue engineering that is suitable for repair of sport-induced ankle injuries.

 

Key words: Tissue Engineering, Biocompatible Materials, Ankle Joint

CLC Number: