POS8-1216
Methacryl Glycol Chitosan Thermogel Matrix for Chondrocyte Spheroid Encapsulation and Cartilage Regeneration
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
Young Ju Lee (Department of Polymer Science and Engineering in Chungnam National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Methacryl glycol chitosan (MGC) is a thermo-responsive hydrogel capable of undergoing temperature-mediated sol-gel transition, followed by additional stabilization through UV-induced photocrosslinking. This dual gelation behavior allows the rapid formation of a mechanically reinforced hydrogel matrix under mild UV irradiation, making MGC a promising extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic scaffold for three-dimensional cell culture. In this study, we investigated the potential of MGC thermogels as a 3D culture platform for chondrocyte spheroids, using single-cell chondrocyte cultures as a control. Chondrocytes encapsulated within MGC thermogels and maintained in spheroid form showed improved cell viability and proliferative activity compared with single-cell cultures. Moreover, MGC-based spheroid cultures exhibited enhanced extracellular matrix deposition, suggesting that the 3D thermogel microenvironment better supports the preservation of chondrogenic function. These findings demonstrate that MGC thermogels provide a favorable microenvironment for chondrocyte spheroid formation and maturation, highlighting their potential as injectable biomaterial scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
