Growth and growth factor production by human nasal septal chondrocytes in serum-free media.

Background: Tissue-engineered human cartilage offers vast possibilities as a source of graft implant material for reconstructive surgery. Serum-supplemented growth media is successful in supporting chondrocyte proliferation in vitro. Serum, however, contains exogenous growth factors that hamper the identification and quantification of growth factors autogenously produced by chondrocytes.