Articular Cartilage Regeneration

Articular cartilage regeneration refers to the process of restoring or repairing the smooth, resilient tissue (articular cartilage) that covers the ends of bones in synovial joints. This tissue is essential for pain-free movement and shock absorption but has very limited natural regenerative capacity in adults. Damage to articular cartilage can result from trauma, degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, or inflammatory conditions. Regenerative strategies include microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI/MACI), stem cell therapies, and gene therapy approaches targeting regulatory RNAs/cytokines involved in inflammation/ECM maintenance.