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Updated: Nov 24, 2025
3D Hydrogel Scaffolds for Articular Chondrocyte Culture and Cartilage Generation
Published on: October 7, 2015
Fabrication of chondroitin sulfate calcium complex and its chondrocyte proliferation in vitro
Qingshan Shen1, Chunhui Zhang2, Haizhen Mo3
1Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China; University of Liege-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Laboratory of Biomass and Green Technologies, Passage des déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
Abstract:
Chondroitin sulfate (CS)-calcium complex (CSCa) was fabricated, and the structural characteristics of CSCa and its proliferative bioactivity to the chondrocyte were investigated in vitro. Results suggested calcium ions could bind CS chains forming polysaccharide-metal complex, and the maximum calcium holding capacity of CSCa reached 4.23 %. Characterization of CSCa was performed by EDS, AFM, FTIR, UV, XRD and 1H-NMR. It was found that calcium ions were integrated with CS by binding the sulfate or carboxyl groups. The thermal properties analysis indicated CSCa had a good thermal stability by TGA and DSC. CSCa could interact the calcium-sensing receptor increasing the intracellular calcium ions and influence the cell cycle. The TGF-β1 secretion induced by CSCa could activate the TGF-β/Smads pathway and change the genes associated proliferation expression ultimately leading to the chondrocyte proliferation. This research probably has an important implication for understanding the effect of CSCa on bone care as food supplements.
