title: Effects of alginate hydrogel cross-linking density on mechanical and biological behaviors for tissue engineering.
abstract: An effective cross-linking of alginate gel was made through reaction with calcium carbonate (CaCO3). We used human chondrocytes as a model cell to study the effects of cross-linking density. Three different pore size ranges of cross-linked alginate hydrogels were fabricated. The morphological, mechanical, and rheological properties of various alginate hydrogels were characterized and responses of biosynthesis of cells encapsulated in each gel to the variation in cross-linking density were investigated. Desired outer shape of structure was maintained when the alginate solution was cross-linked with the applied method. The properties of alginate hydrogel could be tailored through applying various concentrations of CaCO3. The rate of synthesized GAGs and collagens was significantly higher in human chondrocytes encapsulated in the smaller pore structure than that in the larger pore structure. The expression of chondrogenic markers, including collagen type II and aggrecan, was enhanced in the smaller pore structure. It was found that proper structural morphology is a critical factor to enhance the performance and tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: jinahjang@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jinah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: yseol@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: ghj901017@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyeon Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: joydip15@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joydip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, South Korea. Electronic address: kswent@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja-dong, Nam-gu, Pohang, Kyungbuk, 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: dwcho@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: Alginate; Cross-linking; Hydrogel; Structure-properties relations; Tissue engineering