[Application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the application of polymer material, chitosan, in the cartilage tissue engineering.


METHODS
The recent original articles on the application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering were extensively reviewed. The biocompatibility and biodegradation characters of chitosan and its application were analysed.


RESULTS
Chitosan has a high degree of biocompatibility and a favorable chondrogenic characteristic. It can support the maintenance of the phenotypic morphology of chondrocytes besides being used as a scaffold for cell growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The perspective of the application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering is hopeful.
Zeng
Chun
C
Department of Orthopaedics, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Guangdong, 510630, PR China. zengdavid@126.com
Cai
Daozhang
D
Quan
Daping
D
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002356:Cartilage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan