Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Potential Role in the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle

Abstract

Given articular cartilage has a limited repair potential, untreated osteochondral lesions of the ankle can lead to debilitating symptoms and joint deterioration necessitating joint replacement. While a wide range of reparative and restorative surgical techniques have been developed to treat osteochondral lesions of the ankle, there is no consensus in the literature regarding which is the ideal treatment. Tissue engineering strategies, encompassing stem cells, somatic cells, biomaterials, and stimulatory signals (biological and mechanical), have a potentially valuable role in the treatment of osteochondral lesions. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive resource for regenerative medicine approaches, given their ability to self‐renew and differentiate into multiple stromal cell types, including chondrocytes. Although MSCs have demonstrated significant promise in in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, their success in treating osteochondral lesions of the ankle is inconsistent, necessitating further clinical trials to validate their application. This review highlights the role of MSCs in cartilage regeneration and how the application of biomaterials and stimulatory signals can enhance chondrogenesis. The current treatments for osteochondral lesions of the ankle using regenerative medicine strategies are reviewed to provide a clinical context. The challenges for cartilage regeneration, along with potential solutions and safety concerns are also discussed.

Application of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: A concise review

“…However, this method is usually employed to repair the small area cartilage defect model, yet it does not address the large area of cartilage defects related to OA. At present, several scaffolds [polylactic-co-glycolic acid, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid (HA), and fibrin] are applied for the implantation of articular cartilage defects in experimental animal models[22]. They are still not used as routine treatments in clinical practice, although several studies have shown the safety and efficacy of MSC-based tissue engineering methods.…”

Progress of Stem Cell Research in Knee Osteoarthritis

“…By inducing endogenous cells, mesenchymal stem cells function as regenerative cells transplanted on scaffolds in three dimensions to repair damaged cartilage. Various stents, including polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, gelatin, and fibrin, are now used to implant articular cartilage abnormalities in experimental animals [18]. However, because of their safety profile, they are still not employed as a standard form of care in clinical settings.…”

Recent Advances of Using Ionic Liquids for Biopolymer Extraction and Processing

“…Osteochondral defects are usually encountered in young patients who actively take part in sports and entail severe pain, swelling and joint instability . In the study of Iqbal et al., IL 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate ([HMIM][Ac]) was used as a solvent to dissolve blends of collagen with polyvinyl alcohol to prepare hydrogels with good mechanical strength, outstanding fluid uptake ability and excellent biocompatibility.…”