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A Pre-Clinical Test Platform for the Functional Evaluation of Scaffolds for Musculoskeletal Defects: The Meniscus

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HSS Journal ®

Abstract

In an attempt to delay the progression of osteoarthritis from an index injury, early intervention via repair of injured musculoskeletal soft tissue has been advocated. Despite the development of a number of scaffolds intended to treat soft tissue defects, information about their functional performance is lacking. The goal of this study was to consolidate a suite of in vitro and in vivo models into a pre-clinical test platform to assess the functional performance of meniscal repair scaffolds. Our objective was to assess the ability of a scaffold (Actifit™; Orteq, UK) to carry load without detrimentally abrading against articular cartilage. Three test modules were used to assess the functional performance of meniscal repair scaffolds. The first module tested the ability of the scaffold to carry load in an in vitro model designed to measure the change in normal contact stress magnitude on the tibial plateau of cadaveric knees after scaffold implantation. The second module assessed the in vitro frictional coefficient of the scaffold against cartilage to assess the likelihood that the scaffold would destructively abrade against articular cartilage in vivo. The third module consisted of an assessment of functional performance in vivo by measuring the structure and composition of articular cartilage across the tibial plateau 12 months after scaffold implantation in an ovine model. In vitro, the scaffold improved contact mechanics relative to a partly meniscectomized knee suggesting that, in vivo, less damage would be seen in the scaffold implanted knees vs. partly meniscectomized knees. However, there was no significant difference in the condition of articular cartilage between the two groups. Moreover, in spite of the high coefficient of friction between the scaffold and articular cartilage, there was no significant damage in the articular cartilage underneath the scaffold. The discrepancy between the in vitro and in vivo models was likely influenced by the abundant tissue generated within the scaffold and the unexpected tissue that regenerated within the site of the partial meniscectomy. We are currently augmenting our suite of tests so that we can pre-clinically evaluate the functional performance at time zero and as a function of time after implantation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Orteq Sports Medicine Ltd., London, UK. The research was conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research Facilities Improvement Program Grant Number C06-RR12538-01 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Suzanne A. Maher PhD, Scott A. Rodeo MD, Hollis G. Potter MD, Lawrence J. Bonassar PhD, Timothy M. Wright PhD & Russell F. Warren MD

Authors
  1. Suzanne A. Maher PhD
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  2. Scott A. Rodeo MD
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  3. Hollis G. Potter MD
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  4. Lawrence J. Bonassar PhD
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  5. Timothy M. Wright PhD
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  6. Russell F. Warren MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suzanne A. Maher PhD.

Additional information

This study was funded by Orteq Sports Medicine Ltd., London, UK. The project was supported in part by Award Number RO1AR057343 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIAMS or NIH. This research was conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research Facilities Improvement Program CO6-RR12538-01 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the animal protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

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Maher, S.A., Rodeo, S.A., Potter, H.G. et al. A Pre-Clinical Test Platform for the Functional Evaluation of Scaffolds for Musculoskeletal Defects: The Meniscus. HSS Jrnl 7, 157–163 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9188-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11420-010-9188-6

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