Athymic Rat Model for Evaluation of Engineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts

Summary

Animal models are important tools for the evaluation of tissue-engineered grafts. This paper presents the protocol for preparing an electrospun biodegradable polymer graft for use in anterior cruciate ligament tissue engineering, as well as a surgical protocol for implantation in a rat model.

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common ligamentous injury that often requires surgery because the ACL does not heal well without intervention. Current treatment strategies include ligament reconstruction with either autograft or allograft, which each have their associated limitations. Thus, there is interest in designing a tissue-engineered graft for use in ACL reconstruction. We describe the fabrication of an electrospun polymer graft for use in ACL tissue engineering. This polycaprolactone graft is biocompatible, biodegradable, porous, and is comprised of aligned fibers. Because an animal model is necessary to evaluate such a graft, this paper describes an intra-articular athymic rat model of ACL reconstruction that can be used to evaluate engineered grafts, including those seeded with xenogeneic cells. Representative histology and biomechanical testing results at 16 weeks postoperatively are presented, with grafts tested immediately post-implantation and contralateral native ACLs serving as controls. The present study provides a reproducible animal model with which to evaluate tissue engineered ACL grafts, and demonstrates the potential of a regenerative medicine approach to treatment of ACL rupture.

Introduction

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of most common ligament injuries of the knee¹. Because the ruptured ACL’s is unable to heal without surgical intervention, the limitations in activities of daily living as well as participation in sports drive over 175,000 patients to undergo surgery each year², with an estimated cost of one billion dollars annually³. Currently, either autograft or allograft tendon is used for ligament reconstruction. Though high success rates can be achieved with both autograft and allograft replacement, serious complications are associated with these reconstruction options⁴. Auto....

Protocol

NOTE: All animal surgeries were approved by the local veterinary staff and animal use committee prior to commencing the experiments.

1. Preparation of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds

1. Weigh and dissolve medical grade ester terminated poly (ε-caprolactone) in granule form in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol to create a 10% w/w solution of the PCL polymer. Let the solution stir using a stir plate for at least 3 hr to ensure a homogenous solution.
2. Electrospin the PCL solution to create a cuff of highly aligned PCL fibers for scaffold fabrication.
   1. Prepare the electrospinning setup in a chemical fume....

Results

In our experience of 92 rat surgeries by a single surgeon, mean operative time from incision to completion of wound was 16.9 min, with a standard deviation of 4.7 min. At the time of sacrifice, rats weighed 356 ± 23 g. All rats tolerated the surgery well, and experienced no complications. Immediately after surgery, the rats were noted to bear weight on the operative extremity, but exhibited a slight limp. By one week post-operatively, all rats were ambulating with no appreciable limp. The animals all gained weight steadi.......

Discussion

ACL injuries are a common condition in orthopaedic sports surgery, with limited options for reconstruction at the present time. In order to develop an appropriate tissue-engineered substitute for the ACL that will allow regeneration in vivo, a suitable animal model is required. In this study, the fabrication of a biodegradable engineered graft is described, as is its in vivo implantation using a reproducible model of ACL reconstruction in an athymic rat. This model can be utilized to evaluate different .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Medical grade ester terminated poly (ε-caprolactone), granule form (MW = 110,000)	Lactel Absorbable Polymers		Custom synthesized polymer to desired molecular weight
1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol	Sigma-Aldrich	105228	Solvent for PCL polymer
18 G x 1½" bevel needle	BD Medical	305196
Remote Infuse/Withdraw Programmable Syringe Pump	Harvard Apparatus	702101
VersaLaser VLS2.30 Laser Engraver	Microgeo USA	VLS2.30
Expanded Plasma Cleaner 115 V	Harrick Plasma	PDC-001	Plasma etch just prior to collagen coating for surface modification
PureCol Collagen Standard Solution, 3 mg/ml	Advanced Biomatrix	5015-A	Mix 8:1:2.5 solution of PureCol, 10x PBS, 0.1 N NaOH 1:9 in 1x PBS
Suture, 5-0 Vicryl	Henry Schein	1086471
Suture, 4-0 Vicryl	Henry Schein	6540072
Sharp-pointed Dissecting Scissors (Straight; 4.5 inch)	Fisher Scientific	8940
Buphrenorphine hydrochloride	Sigma-Aldrich	B9275	Use 0.03 mg/kg for both intra- and post-operatively for pain control
Ampicillin, injectable	Henry Schein	1185678	Use 25 mg/kg subcutaneously during the procedure
K-wire, 1.6 mm	Spectrum Surgical	SI040062
Keith Needle, Straight 1½"	Delasco Dermatology Lab & Supply	KE-112
Immunocal Decalcifying Solution	Fisher Scientific	NC9491030
Opticryl Acrylic Resin Bone Cement (PMMA) (Monomer and polymer)	US Dental Depot	OPTICRYL 100410
Instron Model 5564 Tensile Testing Machine	Instron	5564	Any comparable tensile testing apparatus is suitable