Preparation and characterization of macromolecule cross-linked collagen hydrogels for chondrocyte delivery

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.