Age dependence of cellular properties of human septal cartilage - Implications for tissue engineering

Background: The persistent need for cartilage replacement material in head and neck surgery has led to novel cell culture methods developed to enginee r cartilage. Currently, there is no consensus on an optimal source of cells for these endeavors. Objectives: To evaluate human nasal cartilage as a potential source of chon drocytes and to determine the effect of donor age on cellular and prolifera tion characteristics. Subjects: Nasal cartilage specimens were obtained after reconstructive surg ery from 46 patients ranging in age from 15 to 60 years. Methods: Specimens were weighed and chondrocytes were isolated by digestion in 0.2% collagenase type II for 16 hours. Cells were maintained in primary cultures until confluency, then seeded onto polylactic acid-polyglycolic a cid scaffolds, Seeding efficiency was determined by quantification of DNA c ontent of seeded constructs by means of Hoechst dye 33258. Specimen weights , cell yields, cell content, and doubling time were also measured and corre lated to donor age. Results: Mean (+/- SD) cartilage mass obtained (648 +/- 229 mg) is higher t han from typical biopsy specimens of auricular cartilage, and the cellular characteristics show a higher proliferation rate than auricular chondrocyte s, Cell yield increased with age, while doubling time decreased with age in samples from patients ranging from 15 to 60 years old. Conclusions: The use of nasal septal cartilage as a source of cells for tis sue engineering may be valid over a wide range of patient ages. The large t issue yield and consequent cell yield make this tissue a potential starting source of chondrocytes for large-volume tissue-engineered implants.