CULTIVATION OF CHONDROCYTES AND MENISCUS CELLS IN THERMO-RESPONSIVE HYDROGELS CONTAINING CHITOSAN AND HYALURONIC ACID UNDER MECHANICAL TENSILE STIMULATION

Abstract

Temperature-responsive hydrogel scaffold containing chitosan and hyaluronic acid was used to entrap primary chondrocytes and meniscus cells. The effect of dynamic tensile strain on the cells/hydrogel constructs was evaluated by measuring cell proliferation, biosynthetic activity, and viability. The results demonstrated that mechanical deformation applied at 15% tensile strain, 0.5 Hz, and 10 min per day for 43 days resulted in substantial increases in glycosaminoglycan (36% for chondrocytes and 31% for meniscus cells) and collagen productions (37% for chondrocytes and 52% for meniscus cells) over static controls while not significantly affecting cell proliferation and viability.