Encapsulation of human articular chondrocytes into 3D hydrogel : phenotype and...

• Autor(es): Pereira, Rui C. ; Gentili, Chiara ; Cancedda, Ranieri ; Azevedo, Helena S. ; Reis, R. L.
• Data: 2011
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/12936
• Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Assunto(s): Natural polymers; Hydrogels; Gelation; Chondrocyte encapsulation; Cell culture and survival within 3D matrix; Cell-based technology; Cartilage regeneration
• Tipo de Documento: Parte ou capítulo de livro
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

This chapter is intended to provide a summary of the current materials used in cell encapsulation technology as well as methods for evaluating the performance of cells encapsulated in a polymeric matrix. In particular, it describes the experimental procedure to prepare a hydrogel matrix based on natural polymers for encapsulating and culturing human articular chondrocytes with the interest in cartilage regeneration. Protocols to evaluate the viability, proliferation, differentiation, and matrix production of embedded cells are also described and include standard protocols such as the MTT and [3H] Thymidine assays, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, histology, and immunohistochemistry analysis. The assessment of cell distribution within the 3D hydrogel construct is also described using APoTome analysis.