以藻酸钙为载体的可注射软骨

INJECTABLE CARTILAGE USING CALCIUM ALGINATE GELS

取新西兰兔双侧耳软骨 ,用酶消化法获取软骨细胞 ,将细胞与藻酸钠溶液混悬 ,加入 2 5 %的氯化钙溶液 ,制备成藻酸钙 /细胞复合物。在复合物固化前 ,用注射器注入裸鼠背部皮下 ,分别于 6、12周取材进行大体和组织学观察 ,以探讨藻酸钙作为软骨组织工程载体的可行性。结果显示 :取材时标本质地较注射时明显变硬 ,组织学观察显示软骨细胞位于类似正常软骨组织的陷窝中 ,陷窝周围有碱性基质沉积 ,番红 O及Masson三色法染色阳性 ,证实有氨基葡聚糖和胶原的合成 ,Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性 ,而对照组没有软骨样组织形成。说明藻酸钙在裸鼠体内可以为软骨细胞提供良好的存活环境 ,软骨细胞在其中生长良好 ,并可合成分泌细胞外基质 ,形成软骨样组织。

To investigate the feasibility of calcium alginate as a carrier of chondrocytes to create new cartilage, chondrocytes isolated from rabbit auricular cartilage by collagenase digestion were mixed with 15% sodium alginate solution, and then 25% calcium chloride was added into itThe calcium alginate-chondrocyte mixture was injected by a needle into the dorsum of nude mice before solidification. Specimens were harvested 6 and 12 weeks later for histological examinationAt harvest, the implants were firm to palpationWhen the specimens were sectioned and stained it was demonstrated that they looked like normal cartilage tissue, with chondrocytes lying in a lacunae in basophilic ground-glass substance around itControl specimens showed no histologic evidence of cartilage formationThis study demonstrates that calcium alginate gels can provide chondrocytes a suitable three-dimensional environment and is a feasible carrier for engineering of cartilage