The synergistic regulation of chondrogenesis by collagen-based hydrogels and cell co-culture.

The suitable seeding cells and scaffolds are very important for tissue engineering to create functional cartilage. Although the physicochemical properties of scaffold and co-culture system of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and chondrocytes could affect functional properties of engineered cartilage tissues respectively, the combined effects of them on chondrogenesis is currently unknown. Herein, methacrylated collagen (CMA30 and CMA80) hydrogels with different degradation rate and stiffness were prepared.

The effect of collagen hydrogels on chondrocyte behaviors through restricting the contraction of cell/hydrogel constructs.

Collagen is a promising material for tissue engineering, but the poor mechanical properties of collagen hydrogels, which tend to cause contraction under the action of cellular activity, make its application challengeable. In this study, the amino group of type I collagen (Col I) was modified with methacrylic anhydride (MA) and the photo-crosslinkable methacrylate anhydride modified type I collagen (CM) with three different degrees of substitution (DS) was prepared. The physical properties of CM and Col I hydrogels were tested, including micromorphology, mechanical properties and degradation properties.

The effects of chemical crosslinking manners on the physical properties and biocompatibility of collagen type I/hyaluronic acid composite hydrogels.

It is necessary to use chemical crosslinking to regulate the mechanical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility of hydrogels. In this study, three kinds of collagen type I (Col I)/hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels with the same ratio and different chemical crosslinking manners were designed and fabricated, and the effects of chemical crosslinking manners on the physical properties and biocompatibility of hydrogels were investigated. The gelation time, mechanical property, swelling and degradability of hydrogels were characterized.