Silk-fibroin peptide hydrogel for 3D culture of chondrocytes in vitro

A peptide hydrogel for in vitro culture of chondrocytes was prepared and investigated based on the designed and synthesised peptide SGGAGGAGGAGGAGGS. Chondrocytes cultured in the peptide hydrogels were observed for changes of morphology characteristic, and the chondrocyte-seeded peptide hydrogels at the designed time point were obtained and the analysis of DNA content, histological staining and immuno-histochemistry was carried out. Our results suggested that the peptide hydrogel may induce the synthesis of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the chondrocytes. Results of GAG and collagen type II in the chondrocytes-hydrogel composites suggested that significant increases are observed with the increasing culture time, which became more intense compared to those of the control, respectively. Analysis of the extracellular matrix molecules also showed that the peptide hydrogel may maintain the phenotypes of chondrocytes during the culture time of 21 days. These findings suggested that this hydrogel containing designed peptide might be used for a potential 3D-scaffold of tissue engineering cartilage.