Biomimetic scaffolds and dynamic compression enhance the properties of chondrocyte- and MSC-based tissue-engineered cartilage.

Adult chondrocytes are surrounded by a protein- and glycosaminoglycan-rich extracellular matrix and are subjected to dynamic mechanical compression during daily activities. The extracellular matrix and mechanical stimuli play an important role in chondrocyte biosynthesis and homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to develop scaffold and compressive loading conditions that mimic the native cartilage micro-environment and enable enhanced chondrogenesis for tissue engineering applications.

Silk fibroin/gelatin-chondroitin sulfate-hyaluronic acid effectively enhances in vitro chondrogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Tissue engineering is becoming promising for cartilage repair due to the limited self-repair capacity of cartilage tissue. We previously fabricated and characterized a three-dimensional silk fibroin/gelatin-chondroitin sulfate-hyaluronic acid (SF-GCH) scaffold and showed that it could promote proliferation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). This study aimed to evaluate its biological performance as a new biomimetic material for chondrogenic induction of BM-MSCs in comparison to an SF scaffold and conventional pellet culture.