Morphological and biomechanical characterization of immature and mature nasoseptal cartilage

Zita M. Jessop, Yadan Zhang, Irina Simoes, Ayesha Al-Sabah, Nafiseh Badiei, Salvatore A. Gazze, Lewis Francis, Iain S. Whitaker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nasoseptal cartilage has been assumed to be isotropic, unlike the well-defined zonal organization of articular cartilage attributed to postnatal biomechanical loading. We know from clinical experience that malrotation of surgical nasoseptal cartilage grafts can lead to increased graft absorption. Other studies have also suggested directionally dependent compressive stiffness suggesting anisotropy, but morphological investigations are lacking. This study characterizes immature and mature native bovine nasoseptal cartilage using a combination of immunohistochemistry, biomechanical testing and structural imaging. Our findings indicate that there is extensive postnatal synthesis and reorganization of the extracellular matrix in bovine nasoseptal cartilage, independent of joint loading forces responsible for articular cartilage anisotropy. Immature nasoseptal cartilage is more cellular and homogenous compared to the zonal organization of cells and extracellular matrix of mature cartilage. Mature samples also exhibited greater glycosaminoglycan content and type II collagen fibre alignment compared to immature cartilage and this correlates with greater compressive stiffness. Engineered neocartilage often consists of immature, isotropic, homogenous tissue that is unable to meet the functional and mechanical demands when implanted into the native environment. This study demonstrates the importance of anisotropy on biomechanical tissue strength to guide future cartilage tissue engineering strategies for surgical reconstruction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number12464
JournalScientific Reports
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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