Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering
The Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering, under the direction of Dr. Thomas Gill and Mark Randolph, is devoted to regenerative approaches for musculoskeletal repair. Together they have a research program exploring tissue engineering approaches to repair and regenerate cartilage. The primary interest focuses on repair and regeneration of traumatic sports-related injuries, particularly to the shoulder and knee.
One area of investigation is developing novel photocurable hydrogel polymers for delivering chondrocytes or chondrogenic precursor cells to cartilage defects. Using this approach, cells can be incorporated into the liquid phase of the polymers, injected into a defect area, and the gel polymerized in situ. The expected outcome is that new cartilage matrix is formed as the polymer biodegrades. In vivo results have been published using fibrin polymer, poly (ethylene glycol), and hyaluronic acid gels (see images below). With greater understanding of cell polymer interactions, and the possible incorporation of growth factors, it may be possible to engineer cartilage that resembles native cartilage in every parameter.
Another area of active investigation is studying the integration of cell-seeded scaffolds and engineered cartilage with the native cartilage surrounding the defect. The poor healing capacity of injured cartilage is well established. To augment healing, it may be possible to use cell-seeded scaffolds to deliver chondrocytes or chondrogenic precursor cells to induce matrix formation and healing. Along with Dr. Lawrence Bonassar from Cornell University, we have published several reports on the potential for chondrocytes to bond or heal cartilage discs together with measurable forces. To extend this into a preclinical model, cell-seeded scaffolds have been inserted into bucket-handle lesions in swine with some success. Recent work has examined an approach using allogeneic cells and new scaffold material to repair lesions in swine knees.
More information on the Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering can be found at www.mgh.harvard.edu/plasticsurgerylab
Recent Publications:
Gill TJ, McCulloch P, Glasson SS, Peluso D, Morris EA. The basis for post-operative rehabilitation following microfracture: a non-human primate model. Am J Sports Med 2005;33:680-5.
Gill TJ, Asnis P, Berkson EM. The treatment of articular cartilage defects using the microfracture technique. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther 2006;36:728-38.
Weinand C, Peretti GM, Adams SB, Randolph MA, Savvidis E, Gill TJ. Healing potential of transplanted allogeneic chondrocytes of three different sources in lesions of avascular zones of the meniscus: a pilot study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2006;126(9):599-605.
Chung C, Mesa J, Miller G, Randolph MA, Gill TJ, Burdick JA. Effects of auricular chondrocyte expansion on neocartilage formation in photocrosslinked hyaluronic acid networks. Tissue Engineering 2006;12:2665-73.
Weinand C, Peretti GM, Adams SB, Bonassar L, Randolph MA, Gill TJ. An allogeneic cell-based implant for meniscus lesions. Am J Sports Med 2006;34:1779-89.
Ibusuki S, Halbesma G, Randolph MA, Redmond RW, Kochevar IE, Gill TJ. Photochemically cross-linked collagen gels as three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering. Accepted for publication (Tissue Engineering).
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