Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells: Biobanking in the Context of Precision Medicine
Published on: April 22, 2022
Human serum for tissue engineering of human nasal septal cartilage
Thomas H Alexander1, August B Sage, Barbara L Schumacher
1Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Diego, 200 W. Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. thalexander@ucsd.edu
Objective:
To compare the chondrogenic and proliferative effects of pooled human serum (HS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) on tissue-engineered human nasal septal chondrocytes.
Study Design And Setting:
Human chondrocytes were expanded for one passage in monolayer in medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 2% HS, 10% HS, or 20% HS. Cells were then suspended in alginate beads for 3D culture for 2 weeks with 10% FBS, 2% HS, 10% HS, or 20% HS.
Results:
Monolayer cell yields were greater with HS than FBS. In alginate, cellular proliferation, glycosaminoglycan production per cell, and type II collagen were significantly higher with 10% HS compared to 10% FBS controls.
Conclusion:
HS results in increased proliferation and production of cartilaginous extracellular matrix by tissue-engineered human nasal septal chondrocytes, compared to FBS controls.
Significance:
Culture with human serum may facilitate creation of neocartilage constructs that more closely resemble native tissue.
