Nanostrontium ranelate incorporated injectable hydrogel enhanced matrix production supporting chondrogenesis in vitro.

An injectable hydrogel, with the advantage of adaptability to defect sites, patient compliance, controlled flowability and high water uptake capability, was explored as a prototype for cartilage tissue regeneration. Chitosan and fibrin are natural biomaterials that are biocompatible, biodegradable, resemble the ECM of the tissues and contain cell adhesion sites thereby providing a support for cell growth. In this study strontium ranelate, a drug recently studied to enhance cartilage regeneration, was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles to provide sustained delivery of the drug content within the composite gel (chitosan/alginate/fibrin hydrogel).