Fate of a chimeric joint construct in an ectopic site in SCID mice.

This study examines the use of a devitalized biological knee as a scaffold for repopulation with chondrocytes and tests the hypothesis that the devitalized scaffold would become repopulated with the foreign chondrocytes when placed in a suitable environment. Chimeric knee constructs were engineered in vitro and their ectopic in vivo fate was examined in SCID mice. The constructs were made by applying porous collagen sponges that contained viable bovine articular chondrocytes to shaved articular surfaces of devitalized embryonic chick knees.

Cell-based therapy for meniscal repair: a large animal study.

Background: The avascular portion of the meniscus cartilage in the knee does not have the ability to repair spontaneously.

Hypothesis: Cell-based therapy is able to repair a lesion in the swine meniscus.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.