[Tissue engineering for therapy of osteochondral cartilage lesions]

Cartilage defects still represent an unsolved problem in joint surgery. The intrinsic healing capacity of cartilage is insufficient and at best leads to reparative tissue like fibrous cartilage or cartilage like tissue regardless of the therapy applied. Cell culture techniques and generation of tissue specific matrix tread new paths to treat traumatic cartilage lesions. This technology referred to as tissue engineering allows for formation of constructs consisting of chondrocytes capable of production of cartilage specific matrix in combination with three-dimensional cell carriers. Polymers such as polylactid, co-polymers like polydioxanon with polyglactin and lyophilized dura have been used successfully to create such constructs with chondrocytes of different animal species. Cartilage specific compounds can be detected by histological and immunohistochemical techniques. To apply these constructs in humans, the distinguishing characteristics and problems of cell culture with human chondrocytes have to be considered. A further improvement of the artificially created tissue is conceivable using growth factors even including genetic manipulation of the applied cells.