A Review Study: Using Stem Cells in Cartilage Regeneration and Tissue Engineering

Articular cartilage, the load-bearing tissue of the joint, has limited repair and regeneration ability. The scarcity of treatment modalities for large chondral defects has motivated researchers to engineer cartilage tissue constructs that can meet the functional demands of this tissue in vivo. Cartilage tissue engineering requires 3 components: cells, scaffold, and environment.
Owning to their easy isolation, expansion, and multilineage differentiation, adult stem cells, specifically multipotential mesenchymal stem cells, are considered the proper candidate for tissue engineering. Successful outcome of cell-based cartilage tissue engineering ultimately depends on the proper differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes and assembly of the appropriate cartilaginous matrix to achieve the load-bearing capabilities of the natural articular cartilage. Furthermore, multiple parameters such as growth factors, signaling molecules, and physical conditions must be considered. Adult mesenchymal stem-cell-based tissue engineering is a promising technology for creating a transplantable cartilage replacement to improve joint function.