Chondrocyte Cultivationin Hyaluronan-Tyramine Cross-Linked Hydrogel

The application of chondrocyte-seeded hydrogels, such as tyramine-substituted hyaluronan, is a highly promising strategy for damaged cartilage treatments. The rheological characteristics of hyaluronan-tyramine derivative scaffold were determined together with the hydrogel swelling, the water uptake, and the morphological characterization. The chondrocytes seeded in hyaluronan-tyramine hydrogel were viable and expressed markers typical for differentiated chondrocytes with no signs of hypertrophy or extensive expression of matrix metalloproteinases. The lyophilized unseeded hyaluronan-tyramine scaffolds were also implantated into trochlea osteochondral defects in rabbits. In conclusion, the hyaluronan-tyramine derivative was proven to be advisable material as a scaffold for cartilage reconstitution. [GRAPHICS]