Cryopreserved chondrocytes in porous biomaterials with surface elastin and poly-l-lysine for cartilage regeneration

The ability of cryopreserved chondrocytes to revitalize and propagate is a key biotechnology in cartilage regeneration. This study shows the formation of neocartilage from cryopreserved chondrocytes in scaffolds grafted with elastin and poly-l-lysine. Cryopreserved chondrocytes in elastin- and poly-l-lysine-grafted constructs were cultured in a dynamic bioreactor and assessed by biochemical assay and staining. Elastin demonstrated a better efficacy for recruiting cryopreserved chondrocytes onto the pore surface of constructs than poly-l-lysine. However, surface elastin and poly-l-lysine did not significantly enhance the biocompatibility to cryopreserved chondrocytes. Chondrocytes multiplied from cryopreserved chondrocytes in elastin-grafted constructs is faster than that in poly-l-lysine-grafted constructs. In addition, elastin could stimulate cryopreserved chondrocytes to synthesize more glycosaminoglycans and collagen than poly-l-lysine. Porous biomaterials with surface elastin and poly-l-lysine can maintain active chondrocytic proliferation and extracellular matrix secretion from chondrocytes with appropriate cryopreservation.

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► Elastin shows a better efficacy for recruiting cryopreserved chondrocytes than poly-l-lysine.
► Elastin and poly-l-lysine cannot apparently reduce cytotoxicity to cryopreserved chondrocytes.
► Cryopreserved chondrocytes with elastin multiply faster than that with poly-l-lysine.
► Elastin stimulates cryopreserved chondrocytes to synthesize more ECM than poly-l-lysine.