^* Constrained Cage Culture Improves Engineered Cartilage Functional Properties by Enhancing Collagen Network Stability.

ABSTRACT: When cultured with sufficient nutrient supply, engineered cartilage synthesizes proteoglycans rapidly, producing an osmotic swelling pressure that destabilizes immature collagen and prevents the development of a robust collagen framework, a hallmark of native cartilage. We hypothesized that mechanically constraining the proteoglycan-induced tissue swelling would enhance construct functional properties through the development of a more stable collagen framework. To test this hypothesis, we developed a novel "cage" growth system to mechanically prevent tissue constructs from swelling while ensuring adequate nutrient supply to the growing construct. The effectiveness of constrained culture was examined by testing constructs embedded within two different scaffolds: agarose and cartilage-derive

SUBMITTER: Nims RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5567877 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature