title: [Application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Guangdong, 510630, PR China. zengdavid@126.com
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Daozhang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Daping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan