This study investigated the potential use of synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) as a cell source for cartilage tissue engineering. Harvested SDSCs from juvenile bovine synovium were expanded in culture in the presence (primed) or absence (unprimed) of growth factors (1 ng/mL transforming growth factor-β(1), 10 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor-ββ, and 5 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor-2) and subsequently seeded into clinically relevant agarose hydrogel scaffolds. Constructs seeded with growth factor-primed SDSCs that received an additional transient application of transforming growth factor-β(3) for the first 21 days (release) exhibited significantly better mechanical and biochemical properties compared to constructs that received sustained growth factor stimulation over the entire culture period (continuous). In particular, the release group exhibited a Young's modulus (267±96 kPa) approaching native immature bovine cartilage levels, with corresponding glycosaminoglycan content (5.19±1.45%ww) similar to native values, within 7 weeks of culture. These findings suggest that SDSCs may serve as a cell source for cartilage tissue engineering applications.
