We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Tissue engineered autologous cartilage-bone grafts for temporomandibular joint regeneration.
- Authors
Chen, David; Wu, Josephine Y.; Kennedy, Kelsey M.; Yeager, Keith; Bernhard, Jonathan C.; Ng, Johnathan J.; Zimmerman, Brandon K.; Robinson, Samuel; Durney, Krista M.; Shaeffer, Courtney; Vila, Olaia F.; Takawira, Catherine; Gimble, Jeffrey M.; Guo, X. Edward; Ateshian, Gerard A.; Lopez, Mandi J.; Eisig, Sidney B.; Vunjak-Novakovic, Gordana
- Abstract
Tempering troublesome joints: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is a common affliction of the jaw that can cause painful interference with chewing or movement, sometimes requiring surgical intervention. Chen et al. sought to reconstruct the cartilage and bone components of the ramus-condyle unit of the TMJ. Using bioreactor culture of autologous cells, they showed that engineered complex tissue grafts repaired TMJ defects in minipigs over 6 months. Results demonstrate the importance of regeneration of the cartilage layer overlying the bone of the constructs for recapitulation of native-like tissue morphology and biochemical composition, as well as long-term function. Joint disorders can be detrimental to quality of life. There is an unmet need for precise functional reconstruction of native-like cartilage and bone tissues in the craniofacial space and particularly for the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Current surgical methods suffer from lack of precision and comorbidities and frequently involve multiple operations. Studies have sought to improve craniofacial bone grafts without addressing the cartilage, which is essential to TMJ function. For the human-sized TMJ in the Yucatan minipig model, we engineered autologous, biologically, and anatomically matched cartilage-bone grafts for repairing the ramus-condyle unit (RCU), a geometrically intricate structure subjected to complex loading forces. Using image-guided micromilling, anatomically precise scaffolds were created from decellularized bone matrix and infused with autologous adipose-derived chondrogenic and osteogenic progenitor cells. The resulting constructs were cultured in a dual perfusion bioreactor for 5 weeks before implantation. Six months after implantation, the bioengineered RCUs maintained their predefined anatomical structure and regenerated full-thickness, stratified, and mechanically robust cartilage over the underlying bone, to a greater extent than either autologous bone-only engineered grafts or acellular scaffolds. Tracking of implanted cells and parallel bioreactor studies enabled additional insights into the progression of cartilage and bone regeneration. This study demonstrates the feasibility of TMJ regeneration using anatomically precise, autologous, living cartilage-bone grafts for functional, personalized total joint replacement. Inclusion of the adjacent tissues such as soft connective tissues and the TMJ disc could further extend the functional integration of engineered RCUs with the host.
- Subjects
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR joint; AUTOTRANSPLANTATION; ARTIFICIAL joints; TISSUE engineering; CONNECTIVE tissues
- Publication
Science Translational Medicine, 2020, Vol 12, Issue 565, p1
- ISSN
1946-6234
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1126/scitranslmed.abb6683