Issue 31, 2023

3D culture of bovine articular chondrocytes in viscous medium encapsulated in agarose hydrogels for investigation of viscosity influence on cell functions

Abstract

The mechanical properties of an extracellular microenvironment can affect cell functions. The effects of elasticity and viscoelasticity on cell functions have been extensively studied with hydrogels of tunable mechanical properties. However, investigation of the viscosity effect on cell functions is still very limited and it can be tricky to explore how viscosity affects cells in three-dimensional (3D) culture due to the lack of appropriate tools. In this study, agarose hydrogel containers were prepared and used to encapsulate viscous media for 3D cell culture to investigate the viscosity effect on the functions of bovine articular chondrocytes (BACs). Polyethylene glycol of different molecular weights was used to adjust culture medium viscosity in a large range (72.8–679.2 mPa s). The viscosity affected gene expression and secretion of cartilagenious matrices, while it did not affect BAC proliferation. The BACs cultured in the lower viscosity medium (72.8 mPa s) showed a higher level of cartilaginous gene expression and matrix secretion.

Graphical abstract: 3D culture of bovine articular chondrocytes in viscous medium encapsulated in agarose hydrogels for investigation of viscosity influence on cell functions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 May 2023
Accepted
23 Jun 2023
First published
24 Jun 2023

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 7424-7434

3D culture of bovine articular chondrocytes in viscous medium encapsulated in agarose hydrogels for investigation of viscosity influence on cell functions

J. Zheng, H. Chen, C. Lu, T. Yoshitomi, N. Kawazoe, Y. Yang and G. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 7424 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB01174G

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