Study of a 3D Bioprinted Spine Unit Model Using Transcriptomics to Understand Degenerative Disc Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying degenerative disc disease by defining the genetic profiles of primary human cells from different parts of the spinal disc, including the nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and cartilaginous endplate. The goal is to use this information as a reference to evaluate a lab-created 3D spinal unit model made through bioprinting. This study will assess how well the bioprinted model mimics the natural disc environment by comparing gene activity between native cells and those in the 3D construct. The study involves developing a human-origin in vitro model that integrates key spinal components using advanced bioprinting technology. Researchers will analyze gene expression in tissue samples from patients undergoing spinal surgery and compare these with cells recovered from the bioprinted model. This comparison aims to measure the accuracy and biological relevance of the 3D spinal unit model. Participants will be adults aged 30 to 70 who have degenerative disc disease with specific MRI grading and require spinal surgery. The main measurement is discovering tissue-specific molecular markers in intervertebral disc cells over a 24-month period from enrollment through data analysis. Participants provide consent and tissue samples during surgery, with no additional treatments involved. The study is observational, focusing on collecting and analyzing biological data to improve understanding of spinal disc biology.

3D Biomimetic Spine Unit Model Through the Integration of Bioprinting and Transcriptomics (CDP-SUBT)