In the past few years, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been identified as a potential therapy to inflammatory diseases due to their ability to secrete immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory factors. Considering the risk of cell leakage outside the target site and the poor survival rate after a local injection, for example in the joint, cell encapsulation in hydrogels could overcome these...
INTRODUCTION. Articular cartilage has excellent biomechanical properties, but due its avascular nature and the low proliferation capacity of mature chondrocytes, the regeneration process usually produces fibrocartilage scars, with worse biomechanical properties. For this reason, articular cartilage traumatic injuries and degenerative pathology are frequent causes of pain and...
In previous decades, biomedical research has focused on the development of biomimetic and biocompatible materials, that do not cause any adverse reactions in the human body [1]. Synthetic materials are already widely used, but usually lack the necessary bioactive cues to promote a specific cellular response. Also, the degradation of these materials can cause toxic side effects....
Recent regenerative medicine is highly focused on therapies that can effectively treat intravertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Because of its high efficiency, tissue engineering is a promising alternative therapy for cartilage defects and IVD is one of its main targets. Here we report on the fabrication of injectable electrospun microscaffolds (MS) containing a small chondrogenic agent:...
Despite key limitations such as host bone supply and quality, donor site morbidity, and immunogenicity, autologous and allograft bone are still considered the clinical standard of care for bone repair [1]. In addition, biomaterials for bone regeneration should be not only biocompatible and osteoconductive, but also osteoinductive [1, 2]. Developing a biomaterial that comprises all the key...
