To determine the suitability of using a chatoyant-collagen sponge as a scaffold for transplanting a chondrocyte into a full-thickness articular cartilage defect.

The in vitro characterization of a chatoyant-collagen sponge infiltrated with the chondrocyte was combined with an in vivo assessment of the early articular cartilage repair in a rabbit's knee by H&E and MTT staining. These porous chatoyant-collagen sponges were implanted into the osteochondral defects made in the left patellofemoral grooves of 12 rabbits. The osteochondral defects were untreated in the right side and used as controls. The experimental animals were sacrificed 1, 3, 6 and 12 weeks after implantation and the repaired tissue was evaluated by a gross and histological evaluation using the Wakitani score.

More primary cells cultured from the articular cartilage of the rabbit's knee were found to attach to and survive within a porous chatoyant-collagen sponge than with a chatoyant sponge. In gross and histological examination, the experimental group showed indications of repair, which appeared similar in color and texture to the surrounding articular cartilage. The Wakitani scoring in the experimental group at 6 (Ave. 10.7) and 12 (Ave. 7.3) weeks were superior to those in the control group at 6 (Ave. 8.7) and 12 (Ave. 3.7) weeks (6 wk: p=0.03, 12 wk: p=0.02).

Scaffolds composed of porous a chatoyant-collagen sponge enhance the growth of cartilaginous repair and make a milieu for the survival of chondrogenic cells both in vitro and in vivo.