Bonding of cartilage pieces using isolated chondrocytes and a biological gel

Abstract

Isolated chondrocytes are propagated in the presence of a biological gel such as a fibrin gel to generate a cartilage matrix that firmly bonds together two adjacent cartilage pieces. A bonding composition containing the isolated chondrocytes mixed with the biological gel is applied to a surface of one (or both) of the cartilage pieces, and the surface is contacted with the other cartilage piece. In a different order of steps, the two cartilage pieces are held in apposition, and gaps at the interface are filled with the bonding composition. In another method, either or both of the cartilage pieces are first incubated with the isolated chondrocytes, the biological gel is then applied, and the cartilage pieces are held together. Alternatively, after incubating with isolated chondrocytes, the biological gel can be applied to fill gaps at the interface between cartilage pieces held in apposition. One or both of the cartilage pieces can be depleted of endogenous chondrocytes before bonding, and the cartilage pieces can be articular cartilage, fibrocartilage or growth cartilage. A cartilage implant is formed by incubating isolated chondrocytes with a cartilage piece and applying the biological gel to the incubated cartilage piece. In repairing defective articular cartilage in a mammal, one of the pieces to be bonded is the defective cartilage and the other piece is the cartilage implant. A meniscal tear in fibrocartilage is another cartilage defect that can be repaired.