Abstract
Chondral and osteochondral lesions represent one of the most challenging and frustrating scenarios for the orthopedic surgeon and for the patient. The lack of therapeutic strategies capable to reconstitute the function and structure of hyaline cartilage and to halt the progression toward osteoarthritis has brought clinicians and scientists together, to investigate the potential role of tissue engineering as a viable alternative to current treatment modalities. In particular, the role of bioprinting is emerging as an innovative technology that allows for the creation of organized 3D tissue constructs via a “layer-by-layer” deposition process. This process also has the capability to combine cells and biomaterials in an ordered and predetermined way. Here, we review the recent advances in cartilage bioprinting and we identify the current challenges and the directions for future developments in cartilage regeneration.
Highlights
Orthopedic surgeons commonly face clinical and surgical challenges for which current therapeutic strategies are not able to provide a satisfactory result
The inability to halt degenerative changes in the articular surface in patients with chondral and osteochondral lesions has brought scientists, clinicians, and surgeons together to tackle the difficulties in cartilage tissue engineering
The goal of this review is to focus on recent advances in cartilage bioprinting and to identify the current challenges and the directions for future developments in cartilage regeneration
Summary
Orthopedic surgeons commonly face clinical and surgical challenges for which current therapeutic strategies are not able to provide a satisfactory result. A recent review on cartilage regeneration using zonal chondrocyte subpopulations has concluded that the attempted restoration of the native tissue organization of articular cartilage has had very limited results to date [36] It is well-known that the topographical heterogeneity in biochemical and structural ECM characteristics of articular cartilage is mainly due to the influence of biomechanical load and the microenvironment [37]; some authors question strategies based on the use of zonally harvested cells, considering these as overcomplicated and potentially even inherently ineffective. The ability to print cells together with the scaffold can facilitate the production of biomaterial that can have characteristics similar to native tissue The development of such a technology able to combine the deposition of specific cell types with the simultaneous printing of biomaterials can, potentially, be useful in the creation of cartilaginous tissue with different zonal distribution [59]. All the printing techniques described above have been used to print cells, and, with some differences, all have demonstrated to be safe and reliable with regards to cells survival and proliferation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
