Tuesday, November 4, 2025 11/4/2025

Toward tissue engineering of facet cartilage

Award Number: R01AR078389
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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Toward tissue engineering of facet cartilage - Project Summary This proposal seeks to engineer an allogeneic zygapophyseal (facet joint) articular resurfacing (AZAR) system by following a rational experimental approach in three specific aims: the AZAR system will consist of a cartilage component (chondro-portion) robustly integrated with a bone-like scaffold component (osteo-portion); the replacement will be secured in situ in the recipient bone bed of the facet joint. In Aim 1, three levels of human and minipig facet joints from both sexes will be fully characterized to define design criteria for the AZAR system. The AZAR system will be designed and fabricated through three phases in Aim 2. First, cytochalasin-D and hyaluronidase will be applied to minipig passaged chondrocytes to engineer the chondro-portion of the implant with compressive properties mimetic to native tissue values. In the same phase, methods for using lysyl oxidase like protein-2 (LOXL2) and tensile stimulation (CoTenS) will be identified to improve the tensile properties of the chondro-portion to native tissue levels. In Aim 2, Phase II, the pore size of the osteo-portion (i.e., the bone portion) directly beneath the engineered cartilage will be fine-tuned for optimum cartilage integration. In Aim 3, minimally invasive surgical methods will be developed for implanting a total facet replacement in the minipig, analogous to the ones currently employed in human patients. Finally, the AZAR system will be implanted into both male and female minipigs to examine its efficacy prior to moving to bipedal models in future studies. Successful completion of this proposal will allow, for the first time, resurfacing of an entire articular surface in a diarthrodial joint using a tissue engineered construct. It will also shed light on as-of-yet unexplored structure- function relationships in the poorly studied facet joint. Last, but not least, it will contribute toward new therapies for facet-related ailments.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $311,358 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	5	1/3/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$311,358
														Subtotal = $311,358

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $335,574 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	4	2/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$311,358
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	001	4	6/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$24,216
														Subtotal = $335,574

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $338,894 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	160 ALDRICH HALL	IRVINE	CA	92697	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	3	2/28/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$338,894
														Subtotal = $338,894

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $335,901 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	141 INNOVATION DR STE 250	IRVINE	CA	92617	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	2	2/11/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$305,363
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	141 INNOVATION DR STE 250	IRVINE	CA	92617	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	001	2	5/20/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$30,538
														Subtotal = $335,901

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $352,210 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE	141 INNOVATION DR STE 250	IRVINE	CA	92617	ORANGE	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	4/28/2021	NEW	$352,210
														Subtotal = $352,210

Grand Total All Awards = $1,673,937

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Toward tissue engineering of facet cartilage

Award Number: R01AR078389

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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