6 - Cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

Osteoarthritis, the severe degeneration of articular surfaces, affects approximately 27 million people in the United States, causing pain and discomfort. Current treatments are inadequate and often result in long-term reinjury. This chapter discusses how tissue engineering aims to address these inadequacies in three categories: the induction of cartilage's biological properties, the choice of materials, and other considerations, including lateral integration and surface friction.