Mechano-active scaffolds were fabricated from very elastic
poly(lactide-co-carprolactone) by a gel-pressing method. The scaffolds were seeded with bone
marrow stromal cells and the continuous compressive deformation was applied to cell-polymer
constructs in the chondrogenic media. Then, they were implanted in nude mice subcutaneously to
evaluate for the effect of dynamic compression for regeneration of cartilage. From the biochemical
analyses, chondrogenic differentiation was sustained and enhanced significantly and chondral
extracellular matrix was increased through mechanical stimulation. Histological analyses showed
that implants stimulated mechanically formed mature and well-developed cartilaginous tissue, as
evidenced by bone marrow derived chondrocytes within lacunae. Consequently, the periodic
application of dynamic compression can encourage bone marrow stromal cells to differentiation to
chondrogenic lineage and to maintain their phenotypes.