Repair Effects of an Injectable Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel Encapsulated with Synovium-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Articular Cartilage Defects in a Rabbit Model

INTRO DUCTIO N Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous blood product that is being increasingly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions. Platelets have a rich store of factors and cytokines within their alpha granules and dense granules, which makes platelet-rich plasma an appealing therapeutic alternative. Some of the important factors found within the alpha granules of the platelet include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), among others. We previously revealed that Synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SDSCs) had a great proliferation potential and multi-lineage differentiation potential in vitro [1]. Furthermore, because SDSCs can be obtained from patients by minimally invasive techniques, they may serve as a source for cartilage regeneration. In an attempt to produce a high-quality cartilage tissue, this study introduced a PRP gel encapsulated with SDSCs and determined that this gel has the potential to regenerate and repair articular cartilage defects.