Tissue engineering is a promising solution to creating a replacement meniscus. The structure and composition of the meniscus lends the tissue its ability to withstand tension and compression. Enhancing extracellular matrix production in an engineered construct, may improve mechanical properties of the construct. The goal of this study was to determine the growth factors that would most increase the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) produced by meniscal fibrochodrocytes. Cells were studied in monolayer and in three dimensional cultures. The growth factors and concentrations evaluated were: TGF-beta1 (1, 10, 100 ng/ml), IGF-I (5, 12.5, 50 ng/ml), PDGF-AB (10, 25, 100 ng/ml), and bFGF (10, 25, 100 ng/ml). TGF-beta1 (at 10 and 100 ng/ml) was the only growth factor that showed an increase in both collagen and GAG component uptake in both culture conditions as indicated by radiolabeling. TGF-beta1 showed the most increase in component uptake over the control and over the other growth factors and is recommended for use in tissue engineering the knee meniscus.