Fig. 6
Schematic illustration of the process of preparing an alginate-based bilayered scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering [89]. Step 1: introduction of alginate solution + HA into the agar mold. Step 2: gelation of the bony layer by Ca2+ crosslinking. Step 3: introduction of alginate sulfate solution + TGF- β1. Step 4: gelation of the chondral layer by Ca2+ crosslinking. Step 5 and 6: removal of the monolithic hydrogel and freeze-drying. Step 7: cell seeding. Step 8: biological tests