Agarose Concentration and TGF-B3 Supplementation Influence Matrix Deposition in Engineered Cartilage Constructs

High prevalence of osteoarthritis and poor intrinsic healing capacity of articular cartilage create a demand for cell-based strategies for cartilage repair. It is possible to tissue engineer cartilage with almost native proteoglycan content, but collagen reaches only 15% to 35% of the native content. Also its natural structural organization is not reproduced. These drawbacks contribute to its insufficient load-bearing properties.