Objective: To study the feasibility of engineering auricled neocartilage with chitosan/polylacticacid-polycrylactone (PLA-PCL) network scaffolds and to search the difference between dynamic and silent chondrocytal culture techniques.
Methods: Chondrocytes from auricled cartilage of 4 weeks old New Zealand White rabbit were seeded onto chitosan/PLA-PCL network. Ten cell-polymer scaffolds were divided into two groups: dynamic group (n1 = 5) with rotating bioreactors and silent group (n2 = 5) with ordinary dishes to culture. Using scan electroscope, grossly histological and immunohistological techniques, the morphological evaluation was done individually at 1st week in vitro, 4th and 8th week in vivo.
Results: Chondrocytes adhered and grew up well on the network, but more quantities of chondrocytes, Glycoaminoglygan (GAG) and type II collagen were found in dynamic group. There was an obvious difference between dynamic and silent group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Chitosan/PLA-PCL network scaffold is good for adhesions and growth of chondrocytes. Furthermore, dynamic cell culture method is better than silent method for formation of neocartilage.