Vitalization of Porous Polyethylene (Medpor®) with Chondrocytes Promotes Early Implant Vascularization and Incorporation into the Host Tissue

Porous polyethylene (Medpor®) is frequently used in craniofacial reconstructive surgery. The successful incorporation of this alloplastic biomaterial depends on adequate vascularization. Here, we analyzed whether the early vascularization of porous polyethylene can be accelerated by vitalization with human chondrocytes. For this purpose, small polyethylene samples were coated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or a suspension of PRP and human chondrocytes. Uncoated polyethylene samples served as controls. Subsequently, the samples were implanted into the dorsal skinfold chamber of CD-1 nude mice to repetitively analyze their vascularization and biocompatibility by means of intravital fluorescence microscopy. PRP-chondrocyte-coated polyethylene exhibited an accelerated and improved vascularization when compared with the other two groups. This was indicated by a significantly higher functional capillary density of the microvascular network developing around the implants. Moreover, a leukocyte-endothelial cell ...