Background:
Newly synthesized cartilage from decellularized porcine nasal septal cartilage (DECM)
produced by tissue engineering could serve as an alternative material for the reconstruction
of congenital and acquired cartilaginous defects in the future. Former studies showed
that the migration of human nasal septal chondrocytes (hnCh) into the DECM can be
accelerated in an automated bioreactor (BR), whereas the static culture provides a
better cell differentiation and new synthesis of matrix (nMS). The current study investigates
the effects of a combination of both culture techniques on the cell migration and
the nMS.
Methods:
DECM were seeded with hnCh and cultivated in the BR. The constructs were transferred
to the static culture after 14 and 28 days, followed by further cultivation for 14
or 28 days respectively. The sole static culture (sC) and sole dynamic culture (dC)
served as control groups. The increase in cell number and the migration of the hnCh
were examined histologically and with quantifluor assay. Immunohistochemistry, DMMB
assay and rtPCR detected and quantified the nMS.
Results:
Initially, hnCh migrated more efficiently into the matrix in the BR compared to the
sC. The transfer of the constructs from the dC to the sC resulted in an increase of
nMS and a better differentiation compared to the sC alone. This effect was exceptionally
obvious after 14 days inside the BR followed by sC.
Conclusion:
The positive effects of the single cultures of seeded DECM can be fostered by the
combination of the dC and sC. Further studies should examine in detail which parameters
cause the different behavior of the hnCh in both single culture techniques.
