In vitro and In vivo Characterization of Human Articular and Rat Growth Plate Chondrocytes Microencapsulated in Alginate using High Electrostatic Potential Technology

摘要

The microencapsulation method was not able to reestablish the phenotype of human articular chondrocytes after 2 weeks in culture. Longer incubation time may be required before collagen type 2 is expressed. The microbeads did not undergo significant degradation in vivo at 4 weeks, which most likely inhibited cartilage formation. Further experiments with lower molecular weight alginates and longer time points are required to further assess the potential as a cell delivery system.