Fisher, Matthew Bruce (2011) Functional Tissue Engineering of the Healing Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most important knee stabilizer and is frequently injured during sports and work related activities. Unfortunately, midsubstance ACL ruptures have a limited healing capacity. As such, surgical reconstruction using soft tissue autografts is often performed. However, long-term follow-up studies have revealed that 20-25% of patients had a less than satisfactory outcome. These negative results have renewed clinical interests in healing of a torn ACL by means of biological stimulation. Thus, there is a need for basic science studies in order to better understand such an approach and also to logically develop an effective functional tissue engineering (FTE) treatment for an injured ACL. The overall objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the positive impact of biological and mechanical augmentation on the healing of the ACL using a combined experimental and computational approach. The ability of an extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffold in combination with an ECM hydrogel to enhance ACL healing following suture repair was first demonstrated in the goat model. At 12 weeks of healing, ECM-treatment led to an increase in neo-tissue formation as well as improved biomechanical properties of the healing ACL compared to suture repair alone. Second, as the healing process of the ACL was relatively slow even with ECM treatment, mechanical augmentation to better restore initial joint stability was required. Therefore, a suture augmentation procedure was developed, and improved joint function was achieved versus suture repair alone at the time of surgery. Further, there was increased tissue formation and improved biomechanical properties of the healing ACL at 12 weeks of healing. Finally, as a step toward predicting long-term outcomes following these biological and mechanical augmentation procedures, a preliminary mathematical model was developed to describe the remodeling process of healing ligaments. The results of this work can now be used to guide future experiments using FTE treatments to enhance ACL healing. With a sound scientific basis, it is hoped that such exciting new technologies could then be translated into the clinical arena to improve patient outcome following ACL injuries.
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Details |
| Item Type: | University of Pittsburgh ETD |
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| ETD Committee: | | ETD Committee Type | Committee Member | Email |
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| Committee Chair | Woo, Savio L-Y | ddecenzo@pitt.edu | | Committee Member | Almarza, Alejandro J | aja19@pitt.edu | | Committee Member | Sacks, Michael S | msacks@pitt.edu | | Committee Member | McMahon, Patrick J | mcmahonp@upmc.edu | | Committee Member | Badylak, Stephen F | badysx@upmc.edu | | Committee Member | Zhang, Yongjie | jessicaz@andrew.cmu.edu |
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| Title: | Functional Tissue Engineering of the Healing Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach |
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| Status: | Unpublished |
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| Abstract: | The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most important knee stabilizer and is frequently injured during sports and work related activities. Unfortunately, midsubstance ACL ruptures have a limited healing capacity. As such, surgical reconstruction using soft tissue autografts is often performed. However, long-term follow-up studies have revealed that 20-25% of patients had a less than satisfactory outcome. These negative results have renewed clinical interests in healing of a torn ACL by means of biological stimulation. Thus, there is a need for basic science studies in order to better understand such an approach and also to logically develop an effective functional tissue engineering (FTE) treatment for an injured ACL. The overall objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the positive impact of biological and mechanical augmentation on the healing of the ACL using a combined experimental and computational approach. The ability of an extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffold in combination with an ECM hydrogel to enhance ACL healing following suture repair was first demonstrated in the goat model. At 12 weeks of healing, ECM-treatment led to an increase in neo-tissue formation as well as improved biomechanical properties of the healing ACL compared to suture repair alone. Second, as the healing process of the ACL was relatively slow even with ECM treatment, mechanical augmentation to better restore initial joint stability was required. Therefore, a suture augmentation procedure was developed, and improved joint function was achieved versus suture repair alone at the time of surgery. Further, there was increased tissue formation and improved biomechanical properties of the healing ACL at 12 weeks of healing. Finally, as a step toward predicting long-term outcomes following these biological and mechanical augmentation procedures, a preliminary mathematical model was developed to describe the remodeling process of healing ligaments. The results of this work can now be used to guide future experiments using FTE treatments to enhance ACL healing. With a sound scientific basis, it is hoped that such exciting new technologies could then be translated into the clinical arena to improve patient outcome following ACL injuries. |
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| Date: | 26 January 2011 |
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| Date Type: | Completion |
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| Defense Date: | 21 July 2010 |
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| Approval Date: | 26 January 2011 |
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| Submission Date: | 15 July 2010 |
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| Access Restriction: | No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
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| Patent pending: | No |
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| Institution: | University of Pittsburgh |
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| Thesis Type: | Doctoral Dissertation |
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| Refereed: | Yes |
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| Degree: | PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
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| URN: | etd-07152010-090117 |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | anterior cruciate ligament; extracellular matrix bioscaffolds; functional tissue engineering; growth and remodeling; robotic testing system |
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| Schools and Programs: | Swanson School of Engineering > Bioengineering |
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| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2011 14:51 |
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| Last Modified: | 19 Jun 2012 10:32 |
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| Other ID: | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-07152010-090117/, etd-07152010-090117 |
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