The present invention relies upon a new scaffold based on chitosan/alginate hydrogel beads, for the cultivation of cartilage-forming cells.

The combination of chitosan and alginate might improve traumatic or degenerative cartilage lesion treatment. Compared to other types of cellularised beads, the present beads can be prepared in a more reproducible way: stabilization of the chondrocytes’ phenotype, while ensuring an optimal space distribution of cells in the host tissue or organ.