Engineering an in-vitro model of rodent cartilage.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify a cell source, scaffold substrate and culture environment suitable for use in engineering an in-vitro model of rodent cartilage. METHODS: The chondrogenic activity and stability of cells isolated at Day 18 of gestation was assessed under normoxia and hypoxia using a cytokine stimulation assay and gene expression analysis. The ability of the selected cells seeded in fibrous electrospun scaffolds to form cartilaginous tissue during longterm static and dynamic culture was assessed using immunocytochemistry and biochemical analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Rodent fetal chondrocytes appear to have enhanced phenotypic stability compared with other cell sources. Following 16 weeks under static culture, the engineered constructs were found to have greater cellularity and collagen content that native rodent cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: A cell source, scaffold and culture environment have been identified that support the generation of in-vitro rodent cartilage. In future work, cytokine treatment of the engineered tissues will take place to generate in-vitro osteoarthritis models.