Polymer Scaffolds for Mandibular Condyle Cartilage Regeneration

最严重的颞下颌关节疾病包括下颌骨髁突变性。 不幸的是，没有再生的选择存在，目前的治疗不能恢复全部功能。 髁状突的关节组织是一种纤维软骨， 在纤维、软骨和骨组织之间，这是正常功能所必需的， 失去了严重的颞下颌关节紊乱。本研究的目的是再生纤维软骨-骨 山羊下颌骨髁状突界面的组织学研究 工程方法。髁状突缺损将采用新型多层支架植入物进行治疗 旨在促进特定部位的组织再生。我们有强大的试点体内数据 显示我们的支架组件在我们的新型山羊中再生纤维和软骨组织， 模型和节段性缺损模型中的骨。我们会将支架植入 髁突沟状缺损我们假设多层支架将允许位点- 下颌髁突软骨的特异性纤维软骨骨再生， 均质海绵支架和未处理的对照缺陷。首先，我们会研究 体外多层支架设计的性能。我们将描述渗透性， TGFβs从支架中释放。第二，我们将评估髁状突的功能愈合， 用多层支架处理的缺陷。我们将评估机械性能， 组织组成和髁状突结构形成，使用1、3和6时的终末测定 术后数月。第三，我们将研究三个细胞亚群的再生潜力 在髁状突上找到的成功完成此提案是提供 再生疗法治疗TMJ下颌骨软骨退变，并成功的基础 其他部位的骨软骨组织再生。

The most severe cases of TMJ disorders consist of mandibular condyle degeneration. Unfortunately, no regenerative options exists and current treatments do not restore full function. The articulating tissue of the condyle is a fibrocartilage that consists of an intricate interface between fibrous, cartilaginous, and boney tissue that is essential for normal function and that is lost in severe TMJ disorders. The objective of this study is to regenerate fibrocartilage-bone interface of the mandibular condyle in skeletally mature goats using a comprehensive tissue engineering approach. A condylar defect will be treated with novel multilayer scaffold implant designed to promote site-specific tissue regeneration. We have strong pilot in-vivo data showing that our scaffolds components regenerate fibrous and cartilage tissue in our novel goat model, and bone in a segmental defect model. We will implant the scaffolds in a mediolateral grove-shaped condylar defect. We hypothesize that a multilayer scaffold will allow for site- specific fibrous-cartilage-bone regeneration of the mandibular condyle cartilage when compared to a homogenous sponge scaffold and untreated control defects. First, we will study the properties of a multilayer scaffold design in-vitro. We will characterize the permeability and release of TGFβs from the scaffold. Second, we will assess the functional healing of condylar defects treated with the multilayer scaffolds. We will assess mechanical properties, regenerate tissue composition, and condylar architecture formation using terminal assays at 1, 3 and 6 months post-surgery. Third, we will study the regeneration potential of three cell subpopulations found on the condyle. Successful completion of this proposal is the critical step to provide a regenerative therapy to treat TMJ mandibular cartilage degeneration, and a basis for successful osteochondral tissue regeneration in other sites.