A collagen-GAG matrix for the growth of intervertebral disc tissue

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and herniation is a significant problem, more so in the aviation field. The IVD also changes during spaceflight. Current treatments for IVD problems can have unfavorable long-term consequences. This thesis investigated a porous, biodegradable collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) matrix for the growth of IVD annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue in vitro in varied culture environments and in an in vivo experiment as an implant for defects in the AF. Five experiments were performed. The first component involved the manufacture and characterization of the CG matrices used in the other studies. Additionally, type I, type II, and 50/50 type I/II CG matrices were made with nearly equal pore diameters, glycosaminoglycan content, and swelling ratios. Second, the capability of intervertebral disc cells to grow into the matrices was assessed by culturing AF explants on top of or between matrices. Cells were able to migrate up to 1 cm from the explant, implying that AF defects of this size could be filled with CG matrices. In the third experiment, explants and explant-matrix constructs were cultured in a rotating-wall bioreactor designed to simulate microgravity. Static culture served as a control. Bioreactor explants were more hydrated and had greater cellular proliferation. This experiment could serve as the ground control for a spaceflight experiment of AF explants. The fourth research component studied the effect of collagen composition on the proliferative and biosynthetic responses of AF cells seeded into CG matrices. Collagen content was varied by using the type I, type II, and type I/II CG matrices with matched characteristics mentioned above.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Hastreiter, Dawn (Dawn Marie), 1973-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Myron Spector.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/8102