Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Published on: July 8, 2021

Decellularized Intervertebral Discs: A Potential Replacement for Degenerate Human Discs.

Halina T Norbertczak¹, Eileen Ingham¹, Hazel L Fermor¹

¹Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Tissue Engineering. Part C, Methods

|October 14, 2020

Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Radiolucent lines in a cementless hip stem: The use of semi-automated measurements to monitor progression over a 10 year period.

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine·2026

Same author

The role of high-resolution cartilage thickness distribution for contact mechanics predictions in the tibiofemoral joint.

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine·2025

Same author

Injectable peptide-glycosaminoglycan hydrogels for soft tissue repair: <i>in vitro</i> assessment for nucleus augmentation.

Materials advances·2024

Same author

A Finite Element Model to Investigate the Stability of Osteochondral Grafts Within a Human Tibiofemoral Joint.

Annals of biomedical engineering·2024

Same author

Effect of meniscus modelling assumptions in a static tibiofemoral finite element model: importance of geometry over material.

Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology·2024

Same author

Cost-effectiveness of decellularised bone allograft compared with fresh-frozen bone allograft for acetabular impaction bone grafting during a revision hip arthroplasty in the UK.

BMJ open·2023

This study developed a decellularization method to create cell-free intervertebral disc (IVD) scaffolds from bovine and human tissues. This technique shows promise for creating regenerative IVD implants that may reduce immune response and preserve spinal mobility.

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Regenerative Medicine
Spine Surgery

Background:

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a primary cause of back pain, with current surgical treatments offering limited success.
Developing a non-immunogenic, biological scaffold for IVD replacement could preserve spinal mobility and promote regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and assess a decellularization protocol for bovine intervertebral discs (IVDs) with endplates (EPs).
To evaluate the protocol's performance on human IVDs with attached EP and vertebral bone (VB) for feasibility.
To demonstrate the creation of a cell-free human IVD biological scaffold with attached bone.

Main Methods:

A decellularization protocol using hypotonic sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.1%), proteinase inhibitors, freeze/thaw cycles, nucleases, and sonication was applied.

Keywords:

acellular biological matrices extracellular matrix intervertebral disc

More Related Videos

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Published on: February 14, 2021

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Published on: April 11, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration

Published on: July 8, 2021

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Published on: February 14, 2021

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

An In Vitro Organ Culture Model of the Murine Intervertebral Disc

Published on: April 11, 2017

Histological, biochemical (DNA, GAG content), and biomechanical (cyclic compression) analyses compared cellular and decellularized tissues.

Protocol efficacy was assessed on both bovine and human IVD samples, including those with attached vertebral bone.

Main Results:

Successful cell removal from bovine IVDs was confirmed, with significantly reduced DNA levels in decellularized tissues (iAF, oAF, EP).
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were largely retained in nucleus pulposus (NP), inner annulus fibrosus (iAF), and outer annulus fibrosus (oAF).
Decellularized human IVD tissues (NP, iAF, oAF, EP, VB) showed DNA levels below 50 ng/mg dry weight and retained high GAG content.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates technical feasibility for creating cell-free human IVD biological scaffolds with attached bone using decellularization.
The retained GAGs and attached bone suggest potential for integration into the recipient spine.
Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to assess biocompatibility and regenerative potential for IVD replacement.