Abstract
An experimental study was conducted on the efficacy of collagen with porous high-density polyethylene (PHDPE) as an artificial extracellular matrix in transplantation of rabbit auricular perichondrium. PHDPE blocks were wrapped with rabbit auricular perichondrium, and the degree of chondrogenesis was estimated histopathologically 2, 4, and 8 weeks after wrapping the blocks. The 36 rabbits used were divided into four groups : I) PHDPE blocks wrapped with a vascularized perichondrium flap ; II) PHDPE blocks infiltrated with type I collagen and wrapped with a vascularized perichondrium flap; III) PHDPE blocks wrapped with a free perichondrium flap; IV) PHDPE blocks infiltrated with type I collagen and wrapped with a free perichondrium flap. Neochondrogenesis was observed in all groups, but the degree of chondrogenesis was greater in Groups I and II than in Groups III and IV. Chondrogenesis was observed slightly earlier in Groups II and TV, and the degree of chondrogenesis was slightly greater than in Groups I and III . The results indicate that PHDPE can be used as an artificial extracellular matrix for neochondrogenesis. However, improvements and further studies, of for example the long-term persistence of chondrocytes and the development of an extracellular matrix in place of collagen, are necessary before PHDPE can be used clinically.
