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Disc Research

Our goal is to regenerate the degenerated human intervertebral disc.

Currently, we focus on nasal chondrocytes as a very promising cell source to achieve this goal.

In detail, we have in vitro models, a bovine disc model and were recently able to start with a human disc model from cadavers.

Selected Publications

Kasamkattil, Jesil, Gryadunova, Anna, Schmid, Raphael, Gay-Dujak, Max Hans Peter, Dasen, Boris, Hilpert, Morgane, Pelttari, Karoliina, Martin, Ivan, Schären, Stefan, Barbero, Andrea, Krupkova, Olga, & Mehrkens, Arne. (2023). Human 3D nucleus pulposus microtissue model to evaluate the potential of pre-conditioned nasal chondrocytes for the repair of degenerated intervertebral disc. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1119009

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Kasamkattil J, Gryadunova A, Martin I, Barbero A, Schären S, Krupkova O, & Mehrkens A. (2022). Spheroid-Based Tissue Engineering Strategies for Regeneration of the Intervertebral Disc. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052530

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Gryadunova A., Kasamkattil J., Gay M.H.P., Dasen B, Pelttari K, Mironov V., Martin I., Scharen S., Barbero A, Krupkova O., & Mehrkens A. (2021). Nose to Spine: spheroids generated by human nasal chondrocytes for scaffold-free nucleus pulposus augmentation. Acta Biomaterialia, 134, 240–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.07.064

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Gay M.H.P., Mehrkens A, Rittmann M., Haug M, Barbero A., Martin I., & Schaeren S. (2019). Nose to back: Compatibility of nasal chondrocytes with environmental conditions mimicking a degenerated intervertebral disc. European Cells and Materials, 37, 214–323. https://doi.org/10.22203/ecm.v037a13

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Mehrkens A, Matta A, Karim MZ, Kim S, Fehlings MG, Schaeren S, & Mark Erwin W. (2017). Notochordal cell-derived conditioned medium protects human nucleus pulposus cells from stress-induced apoptosis. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 17(4), 579–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2017.01.003

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