title: Polymers, scaffolds and bioactive molecules with therapeutic properties in osteochondral pathologies: what's new?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite clinical efforts, treatments to heal osteochondral lesions remain inefficient and frequently result, long-term, in joint arthroplasty. The complex structure of cartilage tissue, composed of a highly hydrated extracellular matrix (ECM), an avascular nature, and slow cellular turnover, hamper tissue regeneration after trauma or disease. Tissue engineering provides new promising alternatives to current treatments designed to regenerate osteochondral defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes current and recent strategies of enhancing osteochondral repair through the use of cells, scaffolds, and bioactive molecules. Here, we review the latest (2011-2015) innovative patents in osteochondral regeneration, emphasizing novel strategies for articular cartilage repair. Finally, we present a summary of ongoing clinical trials that are testing innovative engineered products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promising tissue engineering based procedures have emerged as a therapeutic option for the treatment of osteochondral lesions. The development of multilayer scaffolds and the controlled release of bioactive molecules to promote in situ regeneration of both cartilage and bone are some of the latest technologies that intended to improve on the available traditional treatments. To confirm the potential of these novel approaches, long-term evaluation is necessary with special focus on studying the biological and mechanical proprieties of the synthesized tissues.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Sciences , University of Jaén , Jaén , Spain.|b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|d Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|d Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|e Department of Oncology , University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: María Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|d Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antich
authors.affiliation: b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|d Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Houria
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boulaiz
authors.affiliation: b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|c Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.|d Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) , University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Sciences , University of Jaén , Jaén , Spain.|b Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perán
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010330:Patents as Topic; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers
keywords: Cartilage; biopolymers; cell therapy; growth factors; osteochondral pathology; scaffolds; tissue engineering; tissue regeneration