FORMATION OF TISSUE-ENGINEERED CONSTRUCT OF CARTILAGE IN VITRO
Aim. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the possibility of in vitro formation of tissue-engineered construct of cartilage on the basis of cell-engineered construct composed of biopolymer hydrogel matrix and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. Materials and methods. As a biodegradable matrix, the heterogeneous composition of the implantable gel Sphero <sup>®</sup>GEL (Biomir Service, Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Region) was selected. To generate cell-engineered construct of cartilaginous tissue human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells were mixed with biopolymer matrix Sphero <sup>®</sup>GEL and cultured in chondrogenesis medium. Results. It was revealed that human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells with biopolymer matrix under chondrogenic conditions generate three-dimensional structures and produce cartilaginous extracellular matrix components: collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans. Conclusion. It was discovered that 3-D structures formed in the process of culture of cell-engineered constructs, began to synthesize the components of the cartilage extracellular matrix. This indicates the initial stage of in vitro formation of tissue-engineered cartilage construct.