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.