3D Bi-phasic Cartilage-Bone Organoid for Tissue Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current in vitro models for bone and cartilage tissue development and homeostasis inadequately replicate the natural environment, as they primarily focus on separate provision of bone or cartilage tissue, failing to capture the close interaction and cooperation between these tissues.

Innovation Solution

A 3D in vitro bi-phasic cartilage-bone organoid is developed, comprising a layer of artificial cartilage tissue and a layer of artificial bone tissue with a bone marrow structure, using a zirconium oxide-based, hydroxyapatite-coated ceramic scaffold seeded with mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, to mimic the natural interaction and cooperation between cartilage and bone tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate in vitro models for bone or cartilage tissue are used, then the model structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the model cannot adequately replicate the natural environment and interaction between tissues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplication of natural environmentVSAvoidmodel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines bone tissue and cartilage tissue into a single integrated in vitro model system. The bone tissue model and cartilage tissue model are merged to allow direct interaction between osteoblasts and chondrocytes, replicating the natural bone-cartilage interface environment. This merging enables the study of cellular processes at the tissue boundary that cannot be observed in separate models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can study bone tissue development, cartilage tissue development, and their interaction effects on hematopoietic stem cells. The model system is designed to be multi-functional, allowing research into different aspects of musculoskeletal biology within a single platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a combined cartilage-bone tissue model is created, then the interaction between tissues can be studied, but the model complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestudy of tissue interactionVSAvoidmodel preparation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The model is prepared in segmented stages: first bone tissue is cultured in a culture vessel, then cartilage tissue is added to form the combined structure. This segmentation of the manufacturing process into discrete steps (bone culture phase, cartilage addition phase, interaction phase) makes the complex integrated model more manageable and reproducible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Bone tissue is cultured and established in the culture vessel before cartilage tissue is introduced. This preliminary action of preparing the bone tissue environment first creates a stable foundation for subsequent cartilage addition, simplifying the overall manufacturing process by establishing a sequential rather than simultaneous construction approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2834348B13D in vitro bi-phasic cartilage-bone construct
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 TISSUSE GMBH
  • EP2834348B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2834348B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1G
  • EP2834348B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a 3D in vitro bi-phasic cartilage-bone organoid comprising: a) a layer of artificial cartilage tissue; and b) a layer of artificial bone tissue, wherein the artificial bone tissue comprises a structure-giving scaffold and a bone marrow structure; wherein the layer of artificial cartilage tissue contacts at least one surface of the layer of artificial bone tissue, as well as to uses and a method of production thereof.