Table 1. Production of aggrecan (ng/μg DNA) by chondrocytes in A and CA beads after key intervals throughout the culture time: 3, 21, 28 days.

Beads	Days	FRM	CM	FRM+CM
A	3	615 (604–1,835)	377 (182–936)	992 (778–2,764)
	21	1,490 (900–2,080)	578 (190–966)	2,068 (1,243–2,892)
	28	2,179 (497–4,856)	520 (103–936)	2,699 (333–5,732)
CA	3	481 (332–1,294)	272 (90–635)	753 (469–1,925)
	21	2,036 (381–3,691)	446 (283–609)	2,482 (741–4,223)
	28	2,177 (30–4,384)	387 (271–502)	2,564 (362–4,765)

Values are reported as mean (95% confidence interval) FRM: Further-removed matrix; CM: Cellular matrix; A: alginate; CA: chitosan-alginate