[Mechanical properties of alginate hydrogels with different concentrations and their effects on the proliferation...

The mechanical properties of natural and synthetic extracellular matrices affect cellular processes and regulate tissue formation. In order to explore the optimal environment for chondrocytes growth in vitro, we investigated the relationship between the mechanical properties of the alginate beads and the ability of chondrocyte proliferation in this study. We measured the compressive properties of alginate with different concentrations by INSTRON 3365,and found that compressive moduli significantly increased with increasing alginate concentration. The rabbit chondrocytes were encapsulated in 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v) alginate beads at high (1 x 10(7)/ml) density. After 4 week's culturing, all the three groups resulted in the limited proliferation of the chondrocytes and the formation of cell clusters resembling cartilaginous tissues. Chondrocytes proliferation was more rapid on lower concentrate gels (1%, 2%) than on the higher concentrate gels (3%). These results suggested that the mechanical properties of scaffold architecture had certain effect on chondrocytes proliferation.