Functional Biomolecule Delivery Systems and Bioengineering in Cartilage Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage breakdown, leading to disability.
• Damaged cartilage's avascular and aneural nature prevents self-regeneration, necessitating therapeutic interventions.
• Current stem cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and 3D scaffolds show promise but face limitations in mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging strategies for cartilage regeneration in OA.
• To evaluate the potential of biomaterials, biomolecule delivery systems (BDS), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in enhancing cartilage repair.
• To highlight the importance of multidisciplinary approaches integrating mechanobiology and nanotechnology.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on cartilage regeneration techniques.
• Analysis of biomaterials, including 3D scaffolds and nanodimensional BDS.
• Exploration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

• Biomaterials and 3D scaffolds are crucial for cartilage tissue engineering.
• Functional biomolecule delivery systems (BDS), especially nanodimensional ones, offer controlled release for improved regeneration.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present a biocompatible and targeted alternative for delivering therapeutic biomolecules.

Conclusions:

• Future cartilage regeneration requires multidisciplinary strategies combining advanced biomaterials, nanotechnology, mechanobiology, BDS, and EVs.
• Optimizing scaffold mechanical properties and targeted biomolecule delivery is key to overcoming current limitations.
• Integrating these innovative approaches holds significant potential for effective OA therapy and restoring joint function.