title: A Novel Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Porous Scaffold for Cartilage Repair: An In Vitro Study With Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An important feature of biomaterials used in cartilage regeneration is their influence on the establishment and stabilization of a chondrocytic phenotype of embedded cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a porous 3-dimensional scaffold made of cross-linked hyaluronic acid on the expression and synthesis performance of human articular chondrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osteoarthritic chondrocytes from 5 patients with a mean age of 74 years were passaged twice and cultured within the cross-linked hyaluronic acid scaffolds for 2 weeks. Analyses were performed at 3 different time points. For estimation of cell content within the scaffold, DNA-content (CyQuant cell proliferation assay) was determined. The expression of chondrocyte-specific genes by embedded cells as well as the total amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans produced during the culture period was analyzed in order to characterize the synthesis performance and differentiation status of the cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cells showed a homogenous distribution within the scaffold. DNA quantification revealed a reduction of the cell number. This might be attributed to loss of cells from the scaffold during media exchange connected with a stop in cell proliferation. Indeed, the expression of cartilage-specific genes and the production of sulfated glycosaminoglycans were increased and the differentiation index was clearly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the attachment of osteoarthritic P2 chondrocytes to the investigated material enhanced the chondrogenic phenotype as well as promoted the retention.
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Croma Pharma GmbH, Leobendorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Renate R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Croma Pharma GmbH, Leobendorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höller
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwickl
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niculescu-Morzsa
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Halbwirth
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Department for Health Sciences and Biomedicine, Danube University, Krems, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nehrer
keywords: cartilage; chondrocytes; hyaluronan; osteoarthritis; scaffold