title: In vitro chondrocyte culture in a heparin-based hydrogel for cartilage regeneration.
abstract: In the present study, we applied and optimized a heparin-based hydrogel system, formed by thiolated heparin and diacrylated poly (ethylene glycol), for three-dimensional chondrocyte culture. Encapsulation by the heparin-based hydrogel did not affect the chondrocyte viability (better than calcium-induced alginate gel), and the heparin-based hydrogel promoted chondrocyte proliferation, while maintaining chondrogenic nature. Phenotypic analyses, such as glycosaminoglycan accumulation and histological staining, also supported the proper role of the heparin-based hydrogel for cartilage regeneration; a continuous increase in glycosaminoglycan amount was observed during the culture period. At the transcriptional level, the gene expression of type II collagen and Sox-9 was maintained, whereas type I collagen expression was not observed. The chondrocyte expansion was affected by the gel strength, and there existed an optimum gel concentration for it. Based on the results, the heparin-based hydrogel is a promising material for chondrocyte culture, potentially applicable for cartilage regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Mihye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngnim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Bo-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yang-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jang-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Giyoong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tae
authors.forename: Young Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim