[Application of silks as scaffolds for three-dimensional culture of chondrocytes].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of silks on attachment, shape and function of chondrocytes cultured in vitro.


METHODS
The silks from silk worm cocoons were digested by trypsin and coated with polylactic acid to from three dimensional scaffolds for rabbit rib chondrocyte culture. The growth and shape of chondrocytes were observed with phase contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
The chondrocytes were adhered to silks slowly after chondrocytes were seeded into silk scaffolds and cells fixed on silks well 1 or 2 days later. Cells began to proliferate after 3 days and multiplicative growth was observed on the 6th day. Microholes of silk scaffolds were filled with chondrocytes 2 weeks later. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there was a lot of extracellular matrix surrounding cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Silks are ideal for attachment, growth and function maintenance of chondrocytes, and silks can be used as scaffolds for chondrocytes in three dimensional culture.
Wu
H T
HT
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, EENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China 200031.
Zhong
C P
CP
Gu
Y D
YD
D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003470:Culture Media; D011817:Rabbits; D012272:Ribs / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D003470:Culture Media