Intervention of Poloxamer 188 to chondrocyte damaged by blunt mechanical trauma in vitro

To explore Poloxamer 188, a non-ionic surfactant as a potential tool for early intervention into the chondrocyte damaged by blunt mechanical trauma in vitro. Three groups were control group (n = 6), no treatment group (n = 12) and Poloxamer 188 treatment group (n = 12). Two groups are then loaded to 20 MPa in unconfined compression. At 1 and 24 h the percentages of live and dead cells of superficial zone in compressed and control groups were determined with a cell viability stain. At 1 h post-trauma, specimens of Poloxamer 188 treatment group (76%) had a significantly increased percentage of live cells in the superficial zone versus the no treatment group (55%). In 24 h the percentages of live cells in the superficial zone of the Poloxamer 188 treatment group (57%) were significantly greater than in the no treatment group (38%). Poloxamer 188 surfactant could help restore the integrity of cell membranes in cartilage damaged by blunt mechanical trauma. Models of mechanical cartilage injury in vitro may explain