Regenerative Medicine for Battlefield Injuries
Abstract
The subject of our research is development of the urodele salamander Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl), as a model to find the optimum set of growth factors that will enable regeneration of a cartilage template across a CSD in the long bones of the extremities across a critical size defect (CSD). Unlike most models that attempt to regenerate bone directly, with less than optimum filling, regeneration of a cartilage template mimics the initial step of both the normal development of a long bone and fracture repair. The axolotl model can be used to screen single molecules or combinations of molecules for their ability to stimulate regeneration across a CSD. This model has advantages over mammalian CSD models in that there is greater ease of surgical operation and tissue processing, no requirement for bone fixation, and is less expensive to maintain. Our purpose is to identify the optimum combination of growth factors that simulate cartilage regeneration across a CSD (and ultimately, the optimum scaffold to deliver these factors). The scope of our research includes the anatomical and histological characterization of cartilage and bone regeneration after fracture and creating defects of 10%, 20%, 40% and 50% segment defects less in the fibula, and identifying optimum combinations of factors that will promote regeneration across 50% defects when delivered from an 8-braid SIS scaffold.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA612246
Entities
People
- David L. Stocum
Organizations
- Indiana University