%0 Journal Article %T Study of chondrogenesis of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in curdlan- poly(vinyl alcohol) composite hydrogels and its mechanical properties of freezing-thawing treatments. %A Su YC %A Chang Y %A Lee WC %A Wang JH %A Narita T %A Takeno H %A Syu JY %A Jou IM %A Hsieh WC %J Int J Biol Macromol %V 265 %N 0 %D 2024 Apr 11 %M 38479670 %F 8.025 %R 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130792 %X The curdlan gel is a natural material produced by bacteria. It utilizes chemical cross-linking reactions to form a 3D porous composite hydrogel, increasing its porosity and water content, and improving its mechanical properties. It can be used in tissue repair and regenerative medicine. Curdlan-Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite hydrogel can rapidly swell within 1 min due to its porous structure. Compression tests confirmed that it still maintains its original mechanical strength, even after five repeated freeze-thaw (FT) processes, making it suitable for long-term cryopreservation. The purpose of this study is to transplant umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on Curdlan-PVA composite hydrogel and observe the chondrocytes on the material. The results of using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), calcein-acetoxymethyl ester (calcein AM), and Collagen type II-Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) staining, confirmed that UC-MSCs can attach and differentiate into chondrocytes on 3D Curdlan-PVA composite hydrogel.