Development of tissue engineered meniscal cartilage implants

The vast majority of meniscal lesions are currently treated via partial meniscectomy which predisposes the individual to early osteoarthritis. We are currently developing tissue engineered implants that may be utilised in the future to replace the tissue resected during meniscectomy, restoring meniscal function and inhibiting post-meniscectomy arthritis. Meniscal fibrochondrocytes were isolated and expanded in monolayer culture. The cells were then seeded onto bioresorbable poly lactic acid (PLA) and poly glycolic acid (PGA) scaffold materials. The seeded scaffolds were then cultured in various bioreactor systems to assess the effect of the polymer type and the different bioreactor fluid dynamics on tissue growth. We are growing meniscal shaped implants and currently testing the ability of the tissue engineered material to stimulate repair of meniscal defects in vivo.