Research Progress in Hydrogels for Cartilage Organoids

Abstract

The repair and regeneration of cartilage has always been a hot topic in medical research. Cartilage organoids (CORGs) are special cartilage tissue created using tissue engineering techniques outside the body. These engineered organoids tissues provide models that simulate the complex biological functions of cartilage, opening new possibilities for cartilage regenerative medicine and treatment strategies. However, it is crucial to establish suitable matrix scaffolds for the cultivation of CORGs. In recent years, utilizing hydrogel to culture stem cells and induce their differentiation into chondrocytes has emerged as a promising method for the in vitro construction of CORGs. In this review, we summarize the methods for establishing CORGs and provide an overview of the advantages and limitations of using matrigel in the cultivation of such organoids. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of cartilage tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) and alternative hydrogel substitutes for Matrigel, such as alginate, peptides, silk fibroin, and DNA derivatives, and outline the pros and cons of using these hydrogels for the cultivation of CORGs. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions in hydrogel research for CORGs. It is our hope that this article provides valuable references for the design and development of hydrogels for CORGs.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved