Photo-cross-linked
hydrogels, which respond to light and induce
structural or morphological transitions, form a microenvironment that
mimics the extracellular matrix of native tissue. In the last decades,
photo-cross-linked hydrogels have been widely used in cartilage and
osteochondral tissue engineering due to their good biocompatibility,
ease of fabrication, rapid in situ gel-forming ability, and tunable
mechanical and degradable properties. In this review, we systemically
summarize the different types and physicochemical properties of photo-cross-linked
hydrogels (including the materials and photoinitiators) and explore
the biological properties modulated through the incorporation of additives,
including cells, biomolecules, genes, and nanomaterials, into photo-cross-linked
hydrogels. Subsequently, we compile the applications of photo-cross-linked
hydrogels with a specific focus on cartilage and osteochondral repair.
Finally, current limitations and future perspectives of photo-cross-linked
hydrogels are also discussed.