This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Tears of the meniscus disrupt tissue architecture, impair mechanical function, and lead to the degeneration of knee cartilage. Current excisional treatments do not restore meniscal biomechanical properties. To that end, we have developed a novel biodegradable nanofibrous scaffold (NFS) to facilitate meniscus repair. Recently, we have begun testing these constructs in an ovine model, and are currently evaluating the meniscus healing, as well as the impact of the scaffold repair on the knee articular cartilage, via mechanical testing, histology, and biochemistry. In this study, we propose to utilize advanced imaging techniques to further evaluate the articular cartilage and menisci in knees with NFS-repaired menisci, as compared to control knees and knees with empty meniscus defects. For this, we propose to use two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences designed to look at the articular cartilage and menisci (T1-rho and ultrashort echo time (UTE), respectively), as well as micro-computed tomography (CT) to evaluate cartilage thickness. Limbs from study animals for control (n=1), empty defect (n=1) and NFS-repair (n=2) from the 6 month time point are now available for imaging. These data will provide important pilot information and validation of imaging methodologies to support inclusion of this approach in future grant applications to extramural agencies (i.e, NIH, DOD, VA).
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