Nanomaterials and hydrogel scaffolds for articular cartilage regeneration.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major clinical and scientific challenge. The degradation of articular cartilage in the joints is a common manifestation of painful arthritis. The regeneration of articular cartilage in OA is an unmet clinical need. The assembly of articular cartilage by tissue engineering toward complete regeneration is the goal of most scientists and surgeons. The key ingredients for regeneration are signals, stem cells, and scaffolds. This brief review focuses on the scaffold, with special emphasis on hydrogels and nanomaterials for the assembly of tissue-engineered cartilage, and ultimately leading to the total regeneration of articular cartilage in the joints. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.