The tissue engineering of articular cartilage: cells, scaffolds and stimulating factors

Abstract

Damage or loss of articular cartilage as a consequence of congenital anomaly, degenerative joint disease or injury leads to progressive debilitation, which has a negative impact on the quality of life of affected individuals in all age groups. Classical surgical techniques for hyaline cartilage reparation are frequently insufficient and in many cases it is not possible to obtain the expected results. For this reason, researchers and surgeons are forced to find a method to induce complete cartilage repair. Recently, the advent of tissue engineering has provided alternative possibilities for the treatment of these patients by application of cell-based therapy (e.g. chondrocytes and adult stem cells) combined with synthetic substitutes of the extracellular matrix and bioactive factors to prepare functional replacement of hyaline cartilage. This communication is aimed at a brief review of the current status of cartilage tissue engineering and recent advances in the field.

Osteochondral Repair Using Porous Three-dimensional Nanocomposite Scaffolds in a Rabbit Model

“…This parameter must be considered when planning the selection of porous HAp material for a given medical application. Literature provides discrepant information with regard to the optimum implant porosity (2,21,31,34,36,47,48).…”

“…The purpose of such a scaffold is to create an optimum microenvironment for the migrating cells, a stable supporting structure in the early stages of new tissue formation, and to allow transfer of intercellular signals (20,23,24). Additonally, such a material should be characterised by adequate micro-and macroporosity, stability in a tissue environment, biodegradability, and proper structural integrity to withstand mechanical loads related to the joint's physiological functions (2,21).…”

Cell Technologies and Tissue Engineering in the Treatmentof Articular Chondral Defects

“…Также показано, что в самом примитивном биореакторе в виде вращающегося флакона хондроциты быстрее размножаются и отклады вают больше внеклеточного матрикса. То же наблюдается при культивировании хондроци тов в альгинатных матрицах в перфузируемых культуральных системах [48,49].…”

Decellularized Bovine Articular Cartilage Matrix Reinforced by Carboxylated-SWCNT for Tissue Engineering Application

“…Collagen matrix, fibrin glue, agarose, alginate, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, and cellulose are natural matrices. Polylactic acid, Polyglycolic acid, carbon fibers, Dacron, Teflon, and hydrogel are examples of synthesized matrices (Danisovic et al 2012). Due to biomechanical power and special compounds, the synthesized materials can change according to the changes in the combination of the polymers.…”