Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 2. Comparison of chondrocyte expansion methods. 10% FBS: expansion with 10%FBS;
10% HS: expansion with 10% human serum.
2.3.3 Discussion
The use of FBS for cell therapy is still controversial. Although bovine origin, FBS batches
display less variability than the human ones and seem to better enhance cell growth. A
reduction batch variability facilitate process standardization thus ensuring products
consistency and robustness. Cell growth enhancement allows to shorten manipulation times
and to reduce microbial contamination risks as well as progression to senescence. For these
reasons our choice was towards FBS. The use of a high quality one (see section 2.1) appeared
a good compromise between growth and safety requirements.
2.4 Cartilage engineered cultures
Many studies in the Literature have documented that monolayer expanded chondrocytes
lose their phenotype becoming fibroblast-like cells. This de-differentiation process starts in
the very first passages and progressively increases with time in culture. However, as
attested by a number of study, such a situation can be reverted back when the cells are set in
specifically defined conditions. It is as well documented that when de-differentiated
