Fabrication and Characterization of Immatured Porcine Cartilage-Derived Cells Biomembranes

(1) Background: Knee cartilage injury is at the top of the rising concerns among bone and joint disorders patients. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is widely used to approach knee cartilage deterioration. Integrating autologous chondrocytes and periosteal patches aids in forming new cartilage-like tissue at the lesion area. This study uses a novel cell source from one-day-old porcine cartilage to fabricate a bio-membrane as a substitute for periosteal membranes in cell implantation techniques for treating knee cartilage injuries. (2) Methods: Cells isolated from one-day-old porcine cartilage tissue were identified and assessed for their proliferation capability, differentiation ability, and membrane formation potential. The protein component of bio-membrane also was defined by proteomics. Cartilage repair ability was also confirmed using an in vitro transplantation model. (3) Results: Negative results for porcine infectious diseases are pivotal in selecting suitable piglets to provide cartilage tissue. Cells successfully obtained from one-day-old porcine cartilage exhibited stem cell-like characteristics (CD34-, CD45-, CD90+, CD105+), including high proliferation to 20 passages (doubling time: 1-2 days) and differentiation capacity into various cell types (osteogenesis, adipogenesis, chondrogenesis). Stem cells were successfully applied in the fabrication of bio-membranes. The protein components of bio-membrane included extracellular matrix and growth factors. The in vitro transplantation model showed that bio-membrane induced the repair ability of cartilage defects. (4) Conclusions: This study is the first to successfully harvest stem cells from one-day-old porcine cartilage for bio-membrane fabrication in knee cartilage injury therapeutic application.