Chitosan/Collagen Scaffold Combined with Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Transfected with IGF-1 for The Treatment of Osteochondral Defects in the Knee

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of chitosan/collagen scaffold combined with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) transfected with insulin- like growth factor- 1 (IGF-1) genes in the treatment of osteochondral defects. Methods: 30 New Zealand rabbits were used to create osteochondral defect animal models. They were randomly distributed to two groups. In the experimental group (n = 15), chitosan/collagen scaffold combined with UCSCs transfected with IGF-1 was grafted into the defect by mosaicplasty technique. In the control group, the defect was filled by chitosan/collagen scaffold containing UCSCs. Three months after the surgery, histological scores, biomechanical measures and the level of proteoglycan expression were carried out to evaluate the efficiency of two treatment methods. Results: Animals in the experimental group showed significantly better histological recovery than control group measured with overall evaluation, cartilage and subchondral evaluation scores (P < 0.01). Level of proteoglycan was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.01). In the biomechanical analysis, maximum bending load was significantly higher in the experimental group than control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Chitosan/collagen scaffold combined with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transfected with IGF-1 is an efficient measure in the treatment of osteochondral defect.