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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

3D Hydrogel Scaffolds for Articular Chondrocyte Culture and Cartilage Generation
Published on: October 7, 2015
In vitro method for 3D morphometry of human articular cartilage chondrons based on micro-computed tomography
I Kestilä1, J Thevenot2, M A Finnilä3
1Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Objective:
The aims of this study were: to 1) develop a novel sample processing protocol to visualize human articular cartilage (AC) chondrons using micro-computed tomography (microCT), 2) develop and validate an algorithm to quantify the chondron morphology in 3D, and 3) compare the differences in chondron morphology between intact and osteoarthritic AC.
Method:
The developed protocol is based on the dehydration of samples with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), followed by imaging with a desktop microCT. Chondron density and depth, as well as volume and sphericity, were calculated in 3D with a custom-made and validated algorithm employing semi-automatic chondron selection and segmentation. The quantitative parameters were analyzed at three AC depth zones (zone 1: 0-10%; zone 2: 10-40%; zone 3: 40-100%) and grouped by the OARSI histological grades (OARSI grades 0-1.0, n = 6; OARSI grades 3.0-3.5, n = 6).
Results:
After semi-automatic chondron selection and segmentation, 1510 chondrons were approved for 3D morphometric analyses. The chondrons especially in the deeper tissue (zones 2 and 3) were significantly larger (P < 0.001) and less spherical (P < 0.001), respectively, in the OARSI grade 3-3.5 group compared to the OARSI grade 0-1.0 group. No statistically significant difference in chondron density between the OARSI grade groups was observed at different depths.
Conclusion:
We have developed a novel sample processing protocol for chondron imaging in 3D, as well as a high-throughput algorithm to semi-automatically quantify chondron/chondrocyte 3D morphology in AC. Our results also suggest that 3D chondron morphology is affected by the progression of osteoarthritis (OA).
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