Exploring the potential of cartilage tissue engineering to restore joint damage

Joint damage, articular cartilage degeneration, and the research into methods of restoring the articulation surfaces are not new topics of interest. For centuries, clinicians and scientists have recognized the importance of cartilage damage, and learned about the normal form and function of articular cartilage, as well as the process of degradation and restoration. Unfortunately, only some of the real problems have been resolved. Recently, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have been introduced as a method of restoring tissue or organ function, and has already these concepts have been applied to cartilage repair. The possibility of modulating cells/tissues and applying this novel capability towards the restoration of articular cartilage function provides great promise and opportunity for progress in orthopaedics and traumatology, but to date, no concrete basis for full clinical implementation has been established. This article investigates influences of cartilage tissue engineering and identifies areas in which outcomes can be improved by using a combination of basic and applied research. Identifying the effect and optimal characteristics of various basal culture media, serum supplementation, polypeptide growth factors, scaffolds, and autologous tissue-engineered cartilage implantation in animal models can be beneficial for both in vitro and clinical application. It is hoped that this information may allow researchers to improve the outcome of cartilage tissue engineering in patients