Stem cell application for regeneration of articular cartilage and treatment of osteoarthritis

Unlike bone, which is self-regenerating tissue, the case of articular cartilage presents a dilemma in regeneration of damaged tissue. Articular cartilage has limited potential for self regeneration, and damage to articular cartilage eventually leads to the development and progression of osteoarthritis. The low intrinsic regeneration potential of articular cartilage has been attributed to the difficulty of progenitor cells to access the damaged site due to a lack of blood vessels and the inability of adjacent articular chondrocytes to migrate and produce matrix (Im, 2016; Vinatier et al., 2009)