Minced Cartilage in Regenerative Medicine

Autologous Minced Cartilage Implantation is a treatment method for small cartilage lesions, in which cartilage from a non weight bearing area or from the defect margins is harvested, cut into ~1mm3 pieces, mixed with plasma products, and implanted into the defect. Minced Cartilage Implantation has already been successfully applied in small cartilage defects in otherwise healthy persons. The ideas underlying this method are, on the one hand, to activate the chondrocytes within the implanted cartilage pieces. On the other hand, mincing increases the cartilage surface, which should facilitate the migration of chondrocytes into the surrounding tissue. In a pilot study, we aim to evaluate different cartilage mincing methods in vitro regarding their effects on parameters that are relevant for cartilage regeneration. These include, for example, viability and migration of chondrocytes, expression of chondrocyte differentiation markers, cytokine production, and mechanical properties of cartilage. We also aim to optimize this method, for example, by combination with therapeutic substances, such as glucocorticoids or hyaluronic acid. In addition, we want to analyze whether Autologous Minced Cartilage Implantation could be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of degenerative cartilage disorders, such as osteoarthritis. For our studies, we are planning to use human cartilage from informed consenting patients undergoing knee replacement surgeries. The tissue is routinely removed during these surgical procedures and would otherwise be discarded as „surgical waste“. For mechanical studies, we are planning to use osteochondral biopsies from bovine knees that will be obtained from a local abbatoir.