title: Preparation and characterization of macromolecule cross-linked collagen hydrogels for chondrocyte delivery.
abstract: Collagen hydrogels are widely used in cartilage tissue engineering for their mimicked chondrogenic environment. Due to the rapid degradation nature and weak mechanical property, collagen hydrogels are often cross-linked in application. In this work, collagen hydrogels were soaked into oxidized alginate solution which used as macromolecular cross-linker to prepare the cross-linked hydrogels. Soaking method could retain the self-assemble property of collagen and also bring in a cross-linking network. The compressive modulus and degradation properties of collagen hydrogels were ameliorated after cross-linked, and chondrocytes encapsulated in the cross-linked hydrogels proliferated well and maintained the cell phenotype. This study implied that collagen hydrogels cross-linked by oxidized alginate may have a great potential for application in cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Likun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yujiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xingdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Collagen hydrogels; Degradation; Macromolecular cross-linker; Oxidized alginate