STUDY OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX SCAFFOLD REMODELING IN THE PORCINE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT: UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Regenerative medicine techniques, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds, are currently being investigated to address temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc replacement. Positive results were seen in the canine TMJ model, where ECM scaffolds remodeled to tissue resembling the native TMJ disc biochemically and in compressive properties (Brown et al. 2012, Brown et al. 2011). To further quantify the temporal remodeling of the ECM when implanted in the TMJ, the porcine model was chosen due to similarities with the human TMJ. These pigs underwent bilateral discectomy and a unilateral small intestine submucosa extracellular matrix (SIS-ECM) device implantation and were then euthanized at 1, 3 and 6 months post-op. Unconfined uniaxial compression was performed on the remodeled ECM, and the condylar cartilage from both joints. Biochemical characterization was also performed to measure glycosaminoglycan and DNA content. The results of this study found no statistical (p