A Novel Strategy to Enhance Microfracture Treatment With Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 in a Rat Model

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrated a simple method for improving the quality of cartilage defect repair in a rat model of microfracture. We confirmed the chemotactic properties of SDF-1 on rat MSCs and found an optimized dosage range for chemotaxis between 10 and 100 ng/ml. Furthermore, we demonstrated a strategy to incorporate SDF-1 into gelatin-collagen I scaffolds <i>in vivo</i> at the site of an osteochondral defect. SDF-1-treated defects displayed robust hyaline cartilage resurfacing of the defect with minimal fibrous tissue, in contrast to the empty control group. The results of the <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies together suggest that SDF-1-mediated signaling may significantly improve the quality of cartilage regeneration in an osteochondral defect.