Chitosan-glucose derivative membrane obtained by Maillard reaction improves cartilage repair in a rabbit model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Treatment of articular cartilage injury remains a challenging clinical problem in orthopedics. Chitosan-derived biomaterial could be a potential adjuvant treatment to improve cartilage repair. In the current study, we examined the effects of two potential chitosan-derived materials on cartilage regeneration of osteochondral defects in rabbits. METHODS: An osteochondral defect was created over the rabbit knee and treated using three approaches: group A received no material (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;24), group B received chitosan membranes with glucose absorption (CGA; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;25), and group C received chitosan-glucose derivative membranes obtained via the Maillard reaction (CGMR; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;25). Cartilage repair over the osteochondral defect was analyzed 12 weeks post-surgery via histological analysis, immunostaining, and reverse transcription-qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for type-I and type-II collagen mRNA. RESULTS: According to histological analysis, CGMR-treated defects showed significantly improved modified O'Driscoll scoring when compared with no material- and CGA-treated defects (20.9&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;4.3 vs. 13.00&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.5 and 17.7&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;4.6, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Moreover, group C exhibited higher intensity of type-II collagen immunohistochemical staining over the regenerated cartilage than groups A and B, along with increased expression of type-II collagen mRNA by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: CGMR might improve cartilage regeneration in osteochondral defects.