Homing in on a biological joint replacement

The use of tissue engineering therapies for treating damaged articular cartilage has traditionally focused on cell-based therapies for the repair of focal chondral or osteochondral defects. A recent study by Lee and colleagues in the Lancet shows exciting proof-of-concept that an acellular scaffold containing transforming growth factor beta 3 can induce homing of cells that regenerate a hyaline-like cartilage surface. These findings provide a glimpse into the possibility that tissue engineering may in fact provide the means for regeneration of an entire joint surface, beyond a simple focal defect in the articular cartilage.