Effects of perfusion and cyclic compression on in vitro tissue engineered meniscus implants

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of continuous perfusion and mechanical stimulation on bone marrow stromal cells seeded on a collagen meniscus implant. Methods Bone marrow aspirates from 6 donors were amplified in vitro. 10 6 human BMSC were distributed on a collagen meniscus implant. Scaffolds were cultured under static conditions (control) or placed into a bioreactor system where continuous perfusion (10 ml/min) or perfusion and mechanical stimulation (8 h of 10% cyclic compression at 0.5 Hz) were administered daily. After 24 h, 7 and 14 days, cell proliferation, synthesis of procollagen I and III peptide (PIP, PIIIP), histology, and the equilibrium modulus of the constructs were analyzed. Results Proliferation demonstrated a significant increase over time in all groups ( p