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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

3D Hydrogel Scaffolds for Articular Chondrocyte Culture and Cartilage Generation
Published on: October 7, 2015
Effects of Type I Collagen Concentration in Hydrogel on the Growth and Phenotypic Expression of Rat Chondrocytes
Guang-Zhen Jin1,2, Hae-Won Kim1,2,3
11Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, 31116 Korea.
Abstract:
It is controversial whether type I collagen itself can maintain and improve chondrogenic phenotype of chondrocytes in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. In this study, we examined the effect of type I collagen concentration in hydrogel (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml) on the growth and phenotype expression of rat chondrocytes in vitro. All collagen hydrogels showed substantial contractions during culture, in a concentration-dependent manner, which was due to the cell proliferation. The cell viability was shown to be the highest in 2 mg/ml collagen gel. The mRNA expression of chondrogenic phenotypes, including SOX9, type II collagen, and aggrecan, was significantly up-regulated, particularly in 1 mg/ml collagen gel. Furthermore, the production of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was also enhanced. The results suggest that type I collagen hydrogel is not detrimental to, but may be useful for, the chondrocyte culture for cartilage tissue engineering.
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