SBIR-STTR Award

The long-term objective of the project is the development of tissue engineered cartilage grown in vitro from isolated cadaveric donor chondrocytes grown on bioresorbable scaffolds for the treatment of human articular cartilage defects. This proposal focuses on modulating improving the biochemical and biomechanical properties of tissue engineered cartilage by applying mechanical loading (uniaxial dynamic confined compression) during the in vitro cultivation period. The hypothesis is that the application of mechanical loading during cartilage synthesis will result in an engineered cartilage construct with the structural and functional properties similar to that of native cartilage tissue. A tissue strain bioreactor will be modified into a uniaxial compression system and various mechanical loading parameters will be screened for effects on cellular activity, matrix deposition and mechanical properties. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: A tissue strain bioreactor can be used for the manufacture of tissue engineered cartilage for articular and cartilage for articular and crainofacial clinical application.

The long-term objective of this proposal is to generate a cartilage product with mechanical properties comparable to those of adult articular cartilage for the repair of focal articular defects. Based on previous experimental findings, our hypothesis is that mechanical loading will improve the growth of tissue engineered cartilage in vitro, resulting in a cartilage product with biochemical and biomechanical properties similar to those of articular cartilage. Such tissues are expected to withstand the mechanical forces experienced in vivo better than currently available products, increasing the probability of a successful surgical outcome. To this end, the proposed specific aims of this proposal are as follows: Aim 1: Further develop a novel in house uniaxial compression-perfusion bioreactor system designed and used in the SBIR Phase I into a modular, closed, long-term culture system that supports mechanical modulation and testing of tissues. Aim 2: Determine a culture regime (which will include mechanical loading at specified amplitudes, frequencies, and cycles, as well as perfusion) which results in cartilage constructs with biomechanical and biochemical properties comparable to those of adult articular cartilage. Aim 3: Determine the ability of allogeneic tissue engineered cartilage constructs to successfully repair focal defects on the condylar surface of the patellofemoral joint. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Tissue engineering of cartilage in vitro, followed by transplantation for human therapy of articular surface defects