PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HUMAN CARTILAGE IMPLANTS BY MEANS OF CHONDROCYTES CULTIVATED IN VITRO

摘要

The invention describes a process for the production of a human cartila ge implant from chondrocytes cultured in vitro, which come as close as possible to the original with respect to their biochemical composition and biomechanical properties. Up to 20% by vol. of human serum are used as medium addition in the process. The chondrocytes can be kept in monolayer culture until the 12th passage in order firstly to be re- differentiated under a reduced oxygen partial pressure and subsequently to be stimulated to form a three-dimensional cartilage tissue due to aggregation under an oxygen partial pressure of 21%.