ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the strategies employed by researchers striving to repair or regenerate articular cartilage through biological means. It highlights both the seminal tissue engineering studies focused on articular cartilage and the latest approaches that incorporate bioreactors, bioactive molecules, and specialized biomaterials. Focus has been placed on the three main pillars of tissue engineering: cell source, scaffold design, and external stimulation through the use of bioactive molecules and mechanical bioreactors. Tissue engineering, in its classical sense, involves the manipulation of a complex interplay among biomaterials, growth factors, and cell populations to achieve functional improvement or restoration. The primary advantage of in vitro tissue engineering is proposed to be immediate functionality. The chapter illustrates the importance of the in vitro culture environment on the growth, development, and functionality of native and engineered articular cartilage. Progenitor and stem cell populations, in particular mesenchymal stem cells, have been long considered as a promising cell source for cartilage tissue engineering.
