In vitro chondral culture under compression and shear stimuli. From mesenchymal stem cells to hyaline cartilage.

Abstract Introduction The in vitro creation of hyaline joint cartilage is a challenge since, to date, the ex vivo synthesis of a structured tissue with the same biomechanical and histological properties of the jint cartilage has not been achieved. To simulate the physiological conditions we have designed an in vitro culture system that reproduces joint movement. Material and method We have developed a cell culture bioreactor that prints a mechanical stimulus on an elastin matrix, in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are embedded. The first phase of study corresponds to the development of a bioreactor for hyaline cartilage culture and the verification of cell viability in the elastin matrix in the absence of stimulus. The second phase of the study includes the MSC culture under mechanical stimulus and the analysis of the resulting tissue. Results After culture under mechanical stimulation we did not obtain hyaline tissue due to lack of cellularity and matrix destructuring. Conclusion The stimulus pattern used has not been effective in generating hyaline cartilage, so other combinations should be explored in future research.