Dynamic compression modulates chondrocyte proliferation and matrix biosynthesis in chitosan/gelatin scaffolds

It is well‐documented that dynamical compression stimulates biosynthesis of extracellular biomacromolecules in cartilage explant or in chondrocyte/hydrogel systems. The object of this study was to apply high‐strain dynamic compression to cell‐seeded elastic scaffolds for articular cartilage tissue engineering. Rabbit chondrocytes had been cultured in chitosan/gelatin scaffolds for 3 days before dynamic compression. The chondrocyte/scaffold constructs were subjected to short‐term (3 or 9 h) or long‐term (6 h/day for 3 weeks) cyclic compression with 40% strain and 0.1 Hz. The expression of type II collagen and aggrecan was upregulated after 3‐h of compression when compared with the free‐swelling samples. Furthermore, long‐term culture under dynamic compression facilitated cellular proliferation and deposition of glycosaminoglycan. Our results suggest that high‐strain dynamic compression combined with elastic scaffolds might benefit articular cartilage tissue engineering. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2009