Cell-based therapy represents a promising treatment strategy for cartilage defects. Alone or in combination with scaffolds/biological signals, these strategies open many new avenues for cartilage tissue engineering. However, the choice of the optimal cell source is not that straightforward. Currently, various types of differentiated cells (articular and nasal chondrocytes) and stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells) are being researched to objectively assess their merits and disadvantages with respect to the ability to repair damaged articular cartilage. In this paper, we focus on the different cell types used in cartilage treatment, first from a biological scientist’s perspective and then from a clinician’s standpoint. We compare and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these cell types and offer a potential outlook for future research and clinical application.

Development of artificial materials for the facilitation of cartilage regeneration remains an important challenge in orthopedic practice. Our study investigates the potential for neocartilage formation within a synthetic polyester scaffold based on the polymerization of high internal phase emulsions. The fabrication of polyHIPE polymer (PHP) was specifically tailored to produce a highly porous (85%) structure with the primary pore size in the range of 50–170 μm for cartilage tissue engineering. The resulting PHP scaffold was proven biocompatible with human articular chondrocytes and viable cells were observed within the materials as evaluated using the Live/Dead assay and histological analysis. Chondrocytes with round nuclei were organized into multicellular layers on the PHP surface and were observed to grow approximately 300 μm into the scaffold interior. The accumulation of collagen type 2 was detected using immunohistochemistry and chondrogenic specific genes were expressed with favorable collagen type 2 to 1 ratio. In addition, PHP samples are biodegradable and their baseline mechanical properties are similar to those of native cartilage, which enhance chondrocyte cell growth and proliferation.

Saminoglycan (GAG) matrix would improve the bridging of the nerve gap and functional motor recovery. Methods: A unilateral 10-mm sciatic nerve defect was created in eighty-eight male Lewis rats. Animals were randomly divided into four experimental groups: repair with reversed autograft, reconstruction with collagen nerve conduit (1.5-mm NeuraGen, Integra LifeSciences), reconstruction with collagen nerve conduit filled with collagen matrix, and reconstruction with collagen nerve conduit filled with collagen-GAG (chondroitin-6-sulfate) matrix. Nerve regeneration was evaluated at twelve weeks on the basis of the compound muscle action potential, maximum isometric tetanic force, and wet muscle weight of the tibialis anterior muscle, the ankle contracture angle, and nerve histomorphometry. Results: The use of autograft resulted in significantly better motor recovery compared with the other experimental methods. Conduit filled with collagen-GAG matrix demonstrated superior results compared with empty conduit or conduit filled with collagen matrix with respect to all experimental parameters. Axon counts in the conduit filled with collagen-GAG matrix were not significantly different from those in the reversed autograft at twelve weeks after repair. Conclusions: The addition of the synthetic collagen basal-lamina matrix with chondroitin-6-sulfate into the lumen of an entubulation repair significantly improved bridging of the nerve gap and functional motor recovery in a rat model. Clinical Relevance: Use of a nerve conduit filled with collagen-GAG matrix to bridge a motor or mixed nerve defect may result in superior functional motor recovery compared with commercially available empty collagen conduit. However, nerve autograft remains the gold standard for reconstruction of a segmental motor nerve defect....

The last three decades have witnessed a tremendous increase in female sports participation at all levels. However, increased sports participation of female athletes has also increased the incidence of sport-related injuries, which can be either acute trauma or overuse injuries. Overuse injuries may be defined as an imbalance caused by overly intensive training and inadequate recovery, which subsequently leads to a breakdown in tissue reparative mechanisms. This article will review the most frequent overuse injuries in female athletes in the context of anatomical, physiological, and psychological differences between genders.