title: Flexural properties of native and tissue-engineered human septal cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine and compare the bending moduli of native and engineered human septal cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, basic science.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neocartilage constructs were fabricated from expanded human septal chondrocytes cultured in differentiation medium for 10 weeks. Constructs (n = 10) and native septal cartilage (n = 5) were tested in a 3-point bending apparatus, and the bending moduli were calculated using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All samples were tested successfully and returned to their initial shape after unloading. The bending modulus of engineered constructs (0.32 ± 0.25 MPa, mean ± SD) was 16% of that of native septal cartilage (1.97 ± 1.25 MPa).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human septal constructs, fabricated from cultured human septal chondrocytes, are more compliant in bending than native human septal tissue. The bending modulus of engineered septal cartilage can be measured, and this modulus provides a useful measure of construct rigidity while undergoing maturation relative to native tissue.
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0412, USA.
authors: Jason P
authors: JP
authors: Caffrey
authors: Anton M
authors: AM
authors: Kushnaryov
authors: Marsha S
authors: MS
authors: Reuther
authors: Van W
authors: VW
authors: Wong
authors: Kristen K
authors: KK
authors: Briggs
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Masuda
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Sah
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D055815:Young Adult