Combination of ascorbate and growth factor (TGF β‐3) in thermo‐reversible hydrogel constructs embedded with rabbit chondrocytes for neocartilage formation

Abstract This study evaluated the potential of using poly(NiPAAm‐co‐AAc) as an injectable drug delivery carrier and a cell therapeutic agent in the form of a supporting matrix for the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit chondrocytes. In particular, rabbit chondrocytes were embedded in hydrogels containing a combination of ascorbate and transforming growth factor β‐3 (TGF β‐3). Hydrogel constructs containing embedded cells either without ascorbate or a combination of ascorbate and TGF β‐3 were used as controls to determine the effects of ascorbate and TGF β‐3 on chondrogenic differentiation. The level of cartilage associated ECM proteins was examined using immunohistochemical staining for collagen type II as well as by Safranin‐O and Alcian blue (GAG) staining. The results showed that ascorbate is an important factor for preparing cartilage constructs because of its action on chondrocyte phenotype modulation and proliferation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007