Tissue Engineering to Repair Damaged Cartilage in Osteoarthritis

Because of its lack of blood supply, cartilage tissue regrowth is one of the most significant and challenging problems in tissue engineering. Particularly in the knee joints, wear and tear on cartilage builds up over the years, which results in conditions such as Osteoarthritis. Tissue with proper blood supply can heal, but cartilage does not heal properly. In a person with Osteoarthritis, cartilage tissue has worn down over the years, and the knee bones are often rubbing against each other. This can cause inflammation and a significant amount of pain. Because of the world's aging population and the growing cases of obesity, Osteoarthritis is becoming a bigger problem than ever before, so the focus on medical treatment via tissue engineering has grown as well.

New tissue engineering methods, such as "scaffolding", are being researched as possible treatment options. Scaffolding involves the use of a biomaterial cartilage-like matrix to provide structure and manipulate cell response for the production and recruitment of chondrocytes. With the recent development and research of cartilage regeneration methods, the future of cartilage regeneration and repair looks bright.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110608122815.htm