This chapter is intended to provide a summary of the current materials used in cell encapsulation technology
as well as methods for evaluating the performance of cells encapsulated in a polymeric matrix. In
particular, it describes the experimental procedure to prepare a hydrogel matrix based on natural polymers
for encapsulating and culturing human articular chondrocytes with the interest in cartilage regeneration.
Protocols to evaluate the viability, proliferation, differentiation, and matrix production of
embedded cells are also described and include standard protocols such as the MTT and [3H] Thymidine
assays, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, histology, and immunohistochemistry
analysis. The assessment of cell distribution within the 3D hydrogel construct is also described
using APoTome analysis.(undefined
