Biofunctional Scaffolds for Osteochondral Regeneration

Biofunctional scaffolds aim to recapitulate the complex biophysical and biochemical features of the osteochondral unit, including the articular cartilage and underlying subchondral bone, as well as the complex osteochondral interface composed of calcified cartilage. These scaffolds are designed to create dual chondro-/osteogenic microenvironments facilitating mesenchymal stem cells differentiation, leading to concurrent regeneration of cartilage and bone tissues with robust integration. In the past decade, researchers have developed multifunctional scaffolds that incorporate drug delivery systems or biomolecules (physical and soluble) present in the osteochondral microenvironment to provide localized and sustained bioactive signaling. This chapter addresses different approaches followed for scaffold development for osteochondral regeneration, starting with the description of its extracellular matrix as the basis for the more recently reported biofunctionalization strategies.