Oprenyeszk F, Mathy-Hartert M, Sanchez C, Dubuc JE, Maquet V, Henrotin Y. New alginate-chitosan hydrogel beads with anti-inflammatory and anabolic effects on human chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19:477. doi: 10.1016/S1063-4584(11)60504-9.
This in vitro study evaluated the impact of alginate-chitosan hydrogel beads on human osteoarthritic chondrocytes over a 28-day culture period. The results demonstrated that these beads significantly reduced the production of inflammatory mediators, including interleukins-6 and -8, prostaglandin E₂, and matrix metalloproteinase-3. Additionally, there was a tendency toward increased synthesis of cartilage matrix components such as hyaluronan and aggrecan. These findings suggest that alginate-chitosan hydrogel beads may serve as a promising scaffold for chondrocyte encapsulation, potentially aiding in cartilage repair by modulating inflammation and promoting anabolic activity.
Keywords: Alginate-chitosan hydrogel, chondrocytes, osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory, anabolic effects, cartilage repair