Jomarien García-Couce, Amisel Almirall, Gastón Fuentes, Eric Kaijzel, Alan Chan and Luis J. Cruz* Pages 1915 - 1932 ( 18 )
Articular cartilage is a connective tissue structure that is found in anatomical areas that are important for the movement of the human body. Osteoarthritis is the ailment that most often affects the articular cartilage. Due to its poor intrinsic healing capacity, damage to the articular cartilage is highly detrimental and at present the reconstructive options for its repair are limited. Tissue engineering and the science of nanobiomaterials are two lines of research that together can contribute to the restoration of damaged tissue. The science of nanobiomaterials focuses on the development of different nanoscale structures that can be used as carriers of drugs / cells to treat and repair damaged tissues such as articular cartilage. This review article is an overview of the composition of articular cartilage, the causes and treatments of osteoarthritis, with a special emphasis on nanomaterials as carriers of drugs and cells, which reduce inflammation, promote the activation of biochemical factors and ultimately contribute to the total restoration of articular cartilage.
Targeting platform, polymeric nanobiomaterials, cartilage tissue engineering, anatomical areas, osteoarthritis, articular cartilage.
Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) group, Radiology department, Leiden University Medical Centrum, Leiden, Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) group, Radiology department, Leiden University Medical Centrum, Leiden, Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) group, Radiology department, Leiden University Medical Centrum, Leiden, Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) group, Radiology department, Leiden University Medical Centrum, Leiden, Percuros B.V., Zernikedreef 8, 2333 CL Leiden, Translational Nanobiomaterials and Imaging (TNI) group, Radiology department, Leiden University Medical Centrum, Leiden