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.