Current Concepts and Clinical Applications in Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Cartilage injuries are extremely common in the general population, and conventional interventions have failed to produce optimal results. Tissue engineering (TE) technology has been developed to produce neocartilage for use in a variety of cartilage-related conditions. However, progress in the field of cartilage TE has historically been difficult due to the high functional demand and avascular nature of the tissue. Recent advancements in cell sourcing, biostimulation, and scaffold technology have revolutionized the field and made the clinical application of this technology a reality. Cartilage engineering technology will continue to expand its horizons to fully integrate three-dimensional printing, gene editing, and optimal cell sourcing in the future. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the field of cartilage TE and the landscape of clinical treatments for a variety of cartilage-related conditions.AbstractImpact StatementCartilage tissue engineering (TE) has the potential to transform clinical practice through the swift generation of functional and integrative neotissues. There is an increasing demand for effective cartilage therapies for conditions such as osteoarthritis and focal cartilage lesions, and recent scientific breakthroughs have brought this field closer to widespread clinical use. This review focuses on the recent advancements in cartilage TE with an emphasis on clinical applications that can further enhance the field and contribute to improved clinical care of patients.