Evaluation of healing of the articular cartilage defects with application of decellularised human omentum scaffold, mesenchymal stem cells and PRP combinations - rat model

The ideal treatment of osteochondral defects is controversial. Many surgical methods, such as palliative, repair, and restorative, have been defined. Tissue engineering studies within regenerative treatment methods aim to produce ideal scaffolds using different biomaterials. For this purpose, a composite bilayer scaffold prepared with decellularized human omentum may be effective in the healing of cartilage defects. It is envisaged that the effect will be increased by adding mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and PRP. Wistar albino rats were used in in vivo experiments. No procedure was applied to the control (N) group as experimental groups. The O group was treated with only a decellularized human omentum composite scaffold, the OM group with scaffold and MSCs, the OP group with scaffold and PRP, and the OMP group with scaffold, MSCs, and PRP. Macroscopic and histomorphometric evaluations were performed after 12 weeks of follow-up. In the macroscopic evaluation, it was observed that the scores of the O and OMP groups were higher than the scores of the N group. The structure of the dominant tissue in the defect area varied between fibrous and hyaline cartilage in all groups. Scores related to cartilage matrix, cell distribution, and subchondral bone remodelling process were evaluated as similar in control and experimental groups at 12 weeks. OMP group scored higher than O alone and OM groups. The fact that the OMP group had higher total scores than the OM group supported the healing effect of PRP. OM application provided better-calcified cartilage formation compared to the O group. MSC and PRP did not contribute positively to the effect of the omental scaffold at the expected level. In conclusion, decellularized omentum composite xenograft, MSC, and PRP orthobiological interventions applied in a single dose and a single time window of 12 weeks showed limited effect on osteochondral defect regeneration.