Chondrocyte Repopulation of Allograft Cartilage: A Preliminary Investigation and Strategy for Developing Cartilage Matrices for Reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of devitalized cartilage to sustain repopulation by allogenic chondrocytes and to use 2-photon microscopy to assess cultured chondrocyte viability. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: At an academic medical center, we conducted experimental analysis of lagomorph nasal septa devitalized by subjecting them to either 1) chemical dehydration in ethanol, 2) lyophilization (freeze dry), or 3) repeated freeze-thaw (12 cycles) in liquid nitrogen. The processed cartilages were seeded with chondrocytes isolated from the septa of either the same rabbit or another rabbit and cultured for 4 weeks. They were assessed with a variety of techniques. RESULTS: The seeded chondrocytes maintained viability on the devitalized cartilage throughout the study period. Two-photon microscopy was effective in assessing the viability of cultured chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: Isolated lagomorph chondrocytes can be maintained in allogenic cartilage grafts devitalized using conventional physicochemical techniques. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first experimental study to demonstrate that cultured chondrocytes can be maintained on devitalized cartilage.