[2PS-085]
Optimized Injectable Methacryl Glycol Chitosan Hydrogels for Sol–Gel Transition and 3D Spheroid Encapsulation in Chondrogenic Tissue Engineering
발표자이영주 (충남대학교)
연구책임자허강무 (충남대학교)
Abstract
Methacryl glycol chitosan (MGC) is a thermo‑responsive hydrogel that reversibly transitions from sol to gel with temperature and can be permanently stabilized by gentle UV-induced photo-crosslinking, minimizing phototoxicity while mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) for chondrocytes. Exploiting these features, we assessed MGC thermogels as a scaffold for three‑dimensional chondrocyte spheroid culture, using conventional single‑cell culture as the control. Chondrocytes organized into spheroids within MGC displayed markedly enhanced viability, proliferation, and cartilage‑specific matrix synthesis compared with single‑cell cultures. These results demonstrate that MGC thermogels furnish an optimal microenvironment for chondrocyte spheroid formation and underscore their promise as a biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering.