CHONDROCYTE CELL SHEETS AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE

The disclosure provides a chondrocyte cell sheet comprising one or more layers of confluent cells comprising chondrocytes and chondroprogenitor cells. Methods of generating cartilage tissue in a subject are also provided. The disclosure also provides a method for producing chondrocyte cell sheets comprising culturing chondrocytes and chondroprogenitor cells in culture solution on a temperature-responsive polymer which has been coated onto a substrate surface of a cell culture support, wherein the temperature-responsive polymer has a lower critical solution temperature in water of 0-80° C.; adjusting the temperature of the culture solution to below the lower critical solution temperature, whereby the substrate surface is made hydrophilic and adhesion of the cell sheet to the surface is weakened; and detaching the cell sheet from the culture support.