MECHANICAL TENSILE STRAIN STIMULATION OF CHONDROCYTES AND MENISCUS CELLS IN THERMO-RESPONSIVE HYDROGEL

Temperature-responsive hydrogel scaffold containing chitosan and hyaluronic acid was used to entrap primary chondrocytes and meniscus cells. The effect of dynamic tensile strain on the cells/hydrogel constructs was evaluated by measuring cell proliferation, biosynthetic activity, and viability. The results demonstrated that mechanical deformation resulted in substantial increase in glycosaminoglycan and collagen productions over static controls while not significantly affecting cell proliferation and viability.