In the present study, a porous meniscal-shaped scaffold consisting of polyurethane (PU)-based 1, 4-butanediisocyanate (BDI), which provided a 3-D culture condition for human bone mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSC) was employed. A bioreactor was utilized to produce perfusion and mechanical stimulations. The viability, proliferation and fibro-cartilaginous differentiation of the hBMSC cultured on the PU-based meniscal scaffold were investigated during the perfusion and mechanical stimulation process. In addition, the mechanical properties of the cell-laden scaffolds were examined as well. Our finding indicated that the perfusion (10 ml/min) and on-off cyclic compressions mechanical stimulation (10% strain, 0.5 Hz, 4 times/day, 2 h/time with 4 h of rest thereafter) maintained the viability and promoted the proliferation of hBMSC over 2 weeks. The on-off cyclic compression caused a 1.85 fold increase in equilibrium modulus. Meanwhile, type I procollagen produced by hBMSC was increased for 3.02-fold after 2 weeks culture. On the other hand, the irrigating medium enhanced the synthesis of type III procollagen for 2.24-fold after 2 weeks. Tensile modulus was elevated for 2.02-fold in perfusion group after 1 week, which was decreased after 2 weeks unexpectedly. Our study suggests that the perfusion and on-off compression are promising to enhance the functional properties of the hBMSC-laden PU-based meniscal scaffold. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.