Re-differentiation of human articular chondrocytes is not enhanced by a rotary bioreactor system.

ACI is the most widely used cell-based surgical procedure for the repair of articular cartilage defects. The method is based on in vitro chondrocyte cultivation. Two different culture conditions, rotating-wall-vessel bioreactor and static culture, were assessed by their effect on the re-differentiation potential of human articular chondrocytes seeded into a hydrogel scaffold. Gene expression analysis of the tissue-engineered construct revealed no significant difference between the tested systems.