[Cartilage grafts generated by tissue engineering. Histomorphological, immunochemical and biomechanical properties]

The main technique used in tissue engineering for the generation of autologous cartilage grafts is the production of autologous transplant material from living cells or tissues and/or cell matrices. Incompletely absorbed residual fibrous matter, unforeseeable interactions between cells and biological materials and uneven cell distribution of cells in the cell carriers still present unsolved problems.

For these reasons a three-dimensional aggregate culture system was developed in which cells can generate cartilaginous tissue without the use of biomaterials. Chondrocytes and adult mesenchymal stem cells were used for this purpose and generate cartilaginous tissue with various phenotypes both in the aggregate culture system and in the athymic nude mouse model. The newly generated cartilage was subjected to histomorphological, immunochemical and biochemical investigation.

After 3 weeks of in vitro aggregate culture the chondrocytes of all subclasses formed cartilaginous tissue. After 6 weeks' in vivo maturation in the athymic nude mouse model the new cartilage was found to differ in typical phenotype depending on the native cartilage used.

Cartilage cells of various subclasses and adult mesenchymal stem cells generate cartilaginous tissue corresponding to their own phenotypes in a 3D aggregate culture system. This culture system is a promising method of producing cartilage grafts for use in reconstructive head and neck surgery.