A rabbit osteochondral defect (OCD) model for evaluation of tissue engineered implants on their biosafety and efficacy in osteochondral repair

Liangbin Zhou, Ki Wai Kevin Ho, Lizhen Zheng, Jiankun Xu, Ziyi Chen, Xiangdong Ye, Li Zou, Ye Li, Liang Chang, Hongwei Shao, Xisheng Li, Jing Long, Yangyi Nie, Martin J. Stoddart, Yuxiao Lai (Corresponding Author), Ling Qin (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

Abstract

Osteochondral defect (OCD) is a common but challenging condition in orthopaedics that imposes huge socioeconomic burdens in our aging society. It is imperative to accelerate the R&D of regenerative scaffolds using osteochondral tissue engineering concepts. Yet, all innovative implant-based treatments require animal testing models to verify their feasibility, biosafety, and efficacy before proceeding to human trials. Rabbit models offer a more clinically relevant platform for studying OCD repair than smaller rodents, while being more cost-effective than large animal models. The core-decompression drilling technique to produce full-thickness distal medial femoral condyle defects in rabbits can mimic one of the trauma-relevant OCD models. This model is commonly used to evaluate the implant’s biosafety and efficacy of osteochondral dual-lineage regeneration. In this article, we initially indicate the methodology and describe a minimally-invasive surgical protocol in a step-wise manner to generate a standard and reproducible rabbit OCD for scaffold implantation. Besides, we provide a detailed procedure for sample collection, processing, and evaluation by a series of subsequent standardized biochemical, radiological, biomechanical, and histological assessments. In conclusion, the well-established, easy-handling, reproducible, and reliable rabbit OCD model will play a pivotal role in translational research of osteochondral tissue engineering.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1352023
JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • implant
  • osteochondral defect
  • rabbit model
  • tissue engineering
  • translational research

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Histology
  • Biomedical Engineering

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