Translational applications of photopolymerizable hydrogels for cartilage repair.
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 31807962.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1186/s40634-019-0215-3 and PMC identifier 6895316.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Articular cartilage lesions generated by trauma or osteoarthritis are the most common causes of pain and disability in patients. The development of photopolymerizable hydrogels has allowed for significant advances in cartilage repair procedures. Such three-dimensional (3D) networks of polymers that carry large amounts of water can be created to resemble the physical characteristics of the articular cartilage and be delivered into ill-defined cartilage defects as a liquid solution prior to polymerization in vivo for perfect fit with the surrounding native tissue. These hydrogels offer an adapted environment to encapsulate and propagate regenerative cells in 3D cultures for cartilage repair. Among them, mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes may represent the most adapted sources for implantation. They also represent platforms to deliver therapeutic, biologically active factors that promote 3D cell differentiation and maintenance for in vivo repair. This review presents the benefits of photopolymerization of hydrogels and describes the photoinitiators and materials in current use for enhanced cartilage repair.