Significance
Engineering cartilage with physiologically relevant mechanical properties for point-of-care applications represents a major challenge in orthopedics, given the generally low mechanical strengths of traditional hydrogels used in cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, we characterized a new material that possesses high mechanical strength similar to native cartilage, and determined the optimal cell density and scaffold stiffness to achieve the most efficient chondrogenic response from seeded human bone marrow stem cells. Results show robust chondrogenesis and strongly suggest the potential of this material to be applied clinically for point-of-care repair of cartilage defects.
Statement of significance
Engineering cartilage with physiologically relevant mechanical properties for point-of-care applications represents a major challenge in orthopedics, given the generally low mechanical strengths of traditional hydrogels used in cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, we characterized a new material that possesses high mechanical strength similar to native cartilage, and determined the optimal cell density and scaffold stiffness to achieve the most efficient chondrogenic response from seeded human bone marrow stem cells. Results show robust chondrogenesis and strongly suggest the potential of this material to be applied clinically for point-of-care repair of cartilage defects.