Regenerative medicine in muscular and osteoarticular processes

The research laboratory of Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic is dedicated on the study of regenerative medicine of the musculoskeletal system and prosthetic surgery with special emphasis of their potential application on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of hemophilic arthropathy and collagenopathies. The laboratory promotes multidisciplinary approach, which integrates skills in biology, engineering, medicine and surgery. The main objective is to translate research results into new clinical solutions to improve patients' health and quality of life.

Our main research projects are focused on:

• The regenerative medicine for cartilage regeneration, through co-culture between cells derived from degenerative tissue (chondrocytes from joints and herniated discs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We analyzed also the secretome effects on degenerative chondrocytes. In this setting, we also study adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of MSCs from adipose tissue for the evaluation and characterization of different biomaterials for clinical and surgical orthopedic use.
   
• Several biomaterials such as trabecular titanium scaffolds produced with different technologies, scaffolds for reconstruction of middle ear and 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) bio-resorbable scaffolds.
   
• The role of electromagnetic waves in tissue regeneration, in particular the effects of PEMFs (Pulsed electromagnetic fields) on bone turnover and bone healing.
   
• The role of factor VIII on bone metabolism and its possible involvement on bone density reduction in hemophilic patients. We are conducting an in vivo study (HemoFish) using the hemophilic zebrafish as an animal model to clarify the relationship between the lack of factor VIII (characteristic of patients suffering from hemophilia A) and the reduction in bone mineral density.
   
• The role of neoangiogenesis in the osteointegration of prosthetic implants, through the use of endothelial cells seeded on trabecular titanium scaffolds.
   
• The pathogenesis of synovitis and the molecular mechanisms involved in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and hemophilic arthropathy in order to better understand differences in these settings.
   
• The Italian Retrospective/Prospective Observational Study on Prosthetic Surgery in Patients with Congenital Coagulation Diseases. We are the Coordinator Centre of this study focused on data collection of clinical practice, monitoring of removal-free survivorship of primary and revision joint replacements in hemophilic patients, and evaluation functional outcomes and the frequency and description of peri- and post-operative complications.