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Review
. 2020 Apr;10(4):161.
doi: 10.1007/s13205-020-2134-5. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Where is human-based cellular pharmaceutical R&D taking us in cartilage regeneration?

Damla Alkaya  1 , Cansu Gurcan  1 , Pelin Kilic  1 , Acelya Yilmazer  1   2 , Gunhan Gurman  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Where is human-based cellular pharmaceutical R&D taking us in cartilage regeneration?

Damla Alkaya et al. 3 Biotech. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Lately, cellular-based cartilage joint therapies have gradually gained more attention, which leads to next generation bioengineering approaches in the development of cell-based medicinal products for human use in cartilage repair. The greatest hurdles of chondrocyte-based cartilage bioengineering are: (i) preferring the cell source; (ii) differentiation and expansion processes; (iii) the time necessary for chondrocyte expansion pre-implantation; and (iv) fixing the chondrocyte count in accordance with the lesion surface area of the patient in question. The chondrocyte presents itself to be the focal starting material for research and development of bioengineered cartilage-based medicinal products which promise the regeneration and restoration of non-orthopedic cartilage joint defects. Even though chondrocytes seem to be the first choice, inevitable complications related to proliferation, dedifferentation and redifferentiation are probable. Detailed studies are a necessity to fully investigate detailed culturing conditions, the chondrogenic strains of well-defined phenotypes and evaluation of the methods to be used in biomaterial production. Despite a majority of the current methods which aid amelioration of joint functionality, they are insufficient in fully restoring the natural structure and composition of the joint cartilage. Hence current studies have trended towards gene therapy, mesenchymal stem cells and tissue engineering practices. There are many studies addressing the outcomes of chondrocytes in the clinical scene, and many vital biomaterials have been developed for structuring the bioengineered cartilage. This study aims to convey to the audience the practical significance of chondrocyte-based clinical applications.

Keywords: Autologous chondrocyte implantation; Cartilage bioengineering; Cartilage isolation; Chondrocyte; Chondrocyte characterization; Chondrocyte isolation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for profit sectors. Pelin Kilic, Damla Alkaya and Cansu Grucan performed the literature search and data analysis, and all authors had the idea for the article and thereafter drafted and critically revised the work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Different cell sources with the ability to differentiate into chondrocytes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Combined strategies including biomolecules and scaffolds
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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