Phenotypic redifferentiation and cell cluster formation of cultured human articular chondrocytes in a three‐dimensional oriented gelatin scaffold in the presence of PGE 2 ‐ first results of a pilot study

Modern tissue engineering strategies comprise three elemental parameters: cells, scaffolds and growth factors. Articular cartilage represents a highly specialized tissue which allows frictionless gliding of corresponding articulating surfaces. As the regenerative potential of cartilage is low, tissue engineering‐based strategies for cartilage regeneration represent a huge challenge. Prostaglandins function as regulators in cartilage development and metabolism, especially in growth plate chondrocytes. In this study, it was analyzed if prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) has an effect on the phenotypic differentiation of human chondrocytes cultured in a three‐dimensional (3D) gelatin‐based scaffold made by directional freezing and subsequent freeze‐drying. As a result, it was clearly demonstrated that low doses of PGE 2 revealed beneficial effects on the phenotypic differentiation and collagen II expression of human articular chondrocytes in this 3D cell culture system. In conclusion, PGE 2 is an interesting candidate for tissue engineering applications since it represents an already well‐studied molecule which is available in pharmaceutical quality. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.