Triggering Cell-Biomaterial Interaction: Recent Approaches for Osteochondral Regeneration

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of degenerative joint disease and a leading cause of pain primarily associated with aging [1, 2]. OA is a leading cause of chronic disability in the USA and EU. Numbers are impressive, accounting for over 25 million diseased people in the USA and over 50 million in EU, registering as much as 25% of the total visits to primary care physicians, and half of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) prescriptions. The number of people with OA-related disability is expected to double by the year 2020, thereby increasing the already significant economic burden resulting from the condition [3]. OA is characterized by typical structural alterations of the joint, including focal degradation of articular cartilage and remodelingof subchondral bone [4]; the situation is complicated by the fact that injuries to articular cartilage are one of the most challenging issues of musculoskeletal medicine due to the poor intrinsic ability of this tissue for repair.