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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
3D Hydrogel Scaffolds for Articular Chondrocyte Culture and Cartilage Generation
Published on: October 7, 2015
Comparative analysis of scaffold-free tissue-engineered cartilage derived from different seed cells: in vitro and in
Mengxin Xue1, Kaiwen Zheng1, Jiewei Chen1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
Objective:
The development of cartilage tissue engineering offers a promising strategy for effective cartilage regeneration. This study aims to synthesize scaffold-free tissue-engineered cartilage (TEC) using articular chondrocytes (ACs), costal chondrocytes (CCs), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and synovial-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (SDSCs) as seed cells, comparing their cartilage matrix production in vitro and repair capabilities in vivo to guide seed cell selection.
Methods:
ACs, CCs, BMSCs, and SDSCs were seeded at high density (4.0 × 105 cells/cm2) in 24-well plates with 0.2 mM Ascorbate 2-phosphate and cultured to form scaffold-free TEC. In vitro, we performed real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), biological analyses, and histochemical staining to assess structural characteristics and cartilage-related gene expression. In vivo, a rat model of knee cartilage defect was used to evaluate tissue repair capabilities, followed by histological assessments and statistical analysis.
Results:
In vitro, ACs and CCs showed significantly higher GAG/DNA ratios, with CCs exhibiting the highest chondrogenic gene expression. Histological analysis revealed AC and CC TECs were positive for Safranin-O, Alcian blue, and Col2 staining. In vivo, CC-derived TEC maintained a uniform distribution of Col2, while BMSCs and SDSCs primarily showed Col1 distribution, demonstrating better integration with cartilage and in situ differentiation by 12 weeks.
Conclusion:
ACs and CCs excelled in cartilage matrix synthesis; however, AC TEC exhibited phenotypic instability. CC TEC sustained a hyaline chondrocyte phenotype but had later connectivity issues, while BMSCs and SDSCs integrated better but primarily produced fibrous tissue.
