Microengineering neocartilage scaffolds

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Advances in micropatterning methodologies have made it possible to create structures with precise architecture on the surface of cell culture substrata. We applied these techniques to fabricate microfeatures (15–65 μm wide; 40 μm deep) on the surface of a flexible, biocompatible polysaccharide gel. The micropatterned polymer gels were subsequently applied as scaffolds for chondrocyte culture and proved effective in maintaining key aspects of the chondrogenic phenotype. These were rounded cell morphology and a positive and statistically significant (p < 0.0001) immunofluorescence assay for the production of type II collagen throughout the maximum culture time of 10 days after cell seeding. Further, cells housed within individual surface features were observed to proliferate, while serial application of chondrocytes resulted in the formation of cellular aggregates. These methods represent a novel approach to the problem of engineering reparative cartilage in vitro. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 78: 802–805, 2002.