Regenerative Potential of Various Soft Polymeric Scaffolds in the TMJ Condyle

Publication date: Available online 22 February 2018
Source:Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Adam R. Chin, Jin Gao, Yadong Wang, Juan M. Taboas, Alejandro J. Almarza
PurposeBiodegradable polymeric scaffolds have been used for tissue engineering approaches and can also be employed to regenerate the TMJ joint tissues. Synthetic acellular polymeric Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds and natural scaffolds made from gelatin, are polymeric scaffold sponges that may provide a substrate for cell infiltration and remodeling. Here, we studied the regenerative potential of both scaffolds along with a bioactive signal, Magnesium, in a novel fibrocartilage defect model in the goat mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC). Furthermore, in a departure from the pig model, we have started to develop the goat as a repeatable surgical model with easy access into the joint space on skeletally mature animals.MethodsBilateral osteochondral defects were created in the mandibular condyle of mature female Spanish Boer goats. A 1mm diameter drill was used to create a trough defect on the articular surface. We evaluated 4 different groups: 1) an empty control without an implant, 2) PGS with Mg ions, 3) gelatin with Mg ions, and 4) gelatin with both Mg ions and trimagnesium phosphate (TMP) powder. Goats were allowed to heal for 3 months, and then the tissues were harvested.ResultsThe empty control showed a thin fibrous layer growing within the defect. Both the PGS and gelatin sponge groups yielded a cartilage layer with glycosaminoglycan and collagen type II, along with robust regeneration of the fibrous layer as seen by cell infiltration and collagen in the defect. The TMP in the gelatin did not degrade, and seemed to hamper healing.ConclusionThese results suggest that both synthetic and natural sponges are capable of providing a template for new tissue growth in the MCC of the TMJ. Furthermore, this study is the first to attempt to develop the goat as an in-vivo TMJ tissue regeneration model.



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