title: Comparison of various mixtures of beta-chitin and chitosan as a scaffold for three-dimensional culture of rabbit chondrocytes.
abstract: With the use of a recently created chitosan neutral hydrogel, we have been able to create various mixtures of chitin and chitosan without changing their characteristics even at room temperature. The aim of this study was the initial comparison of various mixtures of beta-chitin and chitosan as a scaffold for rabbit chondrocyte culture. We created five types of sponges: pure beta-chitin, pure chitosan, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 beta-chitin-chitosan. The absorption efficiencies of chondrocytes in all five types of sponges were found to be around 98%. The mean concentrations of chondroitin sulfate were statistically different neither at week 2 nor at week 4 postculture between the types of sponges. The content of hydroxyproline in the beta-chitin sponge was significantly greater than in other sponges at week 4 postculture. From the histochemical and immunohistochemical findings, the cartilage-like layer in the chondrocytes-sponge composites of all five types of sponges was similar to hyaline cartilage. However, only immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen in the pure beta-chitin sponge was closer to normal rabbit cartilage than other types of sponges. The pure beta-chitin sponge was superior to other sponges concerning the content of extracellular matrices of collagen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1, Handayama, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan. suzu-dai@rc5.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarukawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurahashi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagano
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D012996:Solutions; D002686:Chitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D048271:Chitosan; D006909:Hydroxyproline