Long-term mechanical loading of chondrocyte-chitosan biocomposites in vitro enhanced their proteoglycan and collagen content.

One major problem in cartilage tissue engineering is the insufficient biochemical composition of the generated biocomposites. The aim of this study was to improve the collagen and proteoglycan deposition in tissue engineering constructs by application of long-term mechanical loading in culture. Chondrocyte-seeded chitosan biocomposites revealed a homogenous cell distribution, high viability (>95%) and maintenance of a rounded cell shape typical for chondrocytes over 3 weeks of load-free culture.