Editing Cartilage (section)

=== Repair ===
Cartilage has limited repair capabilities: Because chondrocytes are bound in [[Lacuna (histology)|lacunae]], they cannot migrate to damaged areas. Therefore, [[cartilage damage]] is difficult to heal. Also, because hyaline cartilage does not have a blood supply, the deposition of new matrix is slow. Over the last years, surgeons and scientists have elaborated a series of [[articular cartilage repair|cartilage repair procedures]] that help to postpone the need for joint replacement. A [[Tear of meniscus|tear of the meniscus]] of the knee cartilage can often be surgically trimmed to reduce problems. Complete healing of cartilage after injury or repair procedures is hindered by cartilage-specific inflammation caused by the involvement of M1/M2 [[Macrophage|macrophages]], [[Mast cell|mast cells]], and their intercellular interactions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Klabukov |first1=I. |last2=Atiakshin |first2=D. |last3=Kogan |first3=E. |last4=Ignatyuk |first4=M. |last5=Krasheninnikov |first5=M. |last6=Zharkov |first6=N. |last7=Yakimova |first7=A. |last8=Grinevich |first8=V. |last9=Pryanikov |first9=P. |last10=Parshin |first10=V. |last11=Sosin |first11=D. |last12=Kostin |first12=A.A. |last13=Shegay |first13=P. |last14=Kaprin |first14=A.D. |last15=Baranovskii |first15=D. |date=2023 |title=Post-Implantation Inflammatory Responses to Xenogeneic Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Implanted in Rabbit Trachea: The Role of Cultured Chondrocytes in the Modification of Inflammation |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |volume=24 |issue=23 |pages=16783 |doi=10.3390/ijms242316783 |doi-access=free |issn=1422-0067 |pmc=10706106 |pmid=38069106}}</ref>

[[Biological engineering]] techniques are being developed to generate new cartilage, using a cellular "scaffolding" material and [[Autologous chondrocyte implantation|cultured cells]] to grow artificial cartilage.<ref>[http://www.cartilage.org International Cartilage Repair Society ICRS]</ref> Extensive researches have been conducted on freeze-thawed [[Polyvinyl alcohol|PVA]] [[hydrogel]]s as a base material for such a purpose.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Adelnia|first1=Hossein|last2=Ensandoost|first2=Reza|last3=Shebbrin Moonshi|first3=Shehzahdi|last4=Gavgani|first4=Jaber Nasrollah|last5=Vasafi|first5=Emad Izadi|last6=Ta|first6=Hang Thu|date=2022-02-05|title=Freeze/thawed polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels: Present, past and future|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305721007084|journal=European Polymer Journal|language=en|volume=164|pages=110974|doi=10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110974|bibcode=2022EurPJ.16410974A |s2cid=245576810|issn=0014-3057|hdl=10072/417476|hdl-access=free}}</ref> These gels have exhibited great promises in terms of biocompatibility, wear resistance, [[shock absorption]], [[friction]] coefficient, [[Stiffness|flexibility]], and lubrication, and thus are considered superior to polyethylene-based cartilages. A two-year implantation of the PVA hydrogels as artificial meniscus in rabbits showed that the gels remain intact without degradation, fracture, or loss of properties.<ref name=":0" />