Three-Dimensional Printing Technology Combined with Materials Drives Meniscal and Cartilaginous Regeneration

Meniscal and cartilaginous injuries are both common diseases of knee joints, which tend to be great risk factors for the degenerative joints or osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis, is a disabling disease affecting many adults and old ages and weakening the quality of life of its victim. Unfortunately, there is no cure for OA. Thus, irreversible meniscal or cartilaginous disorders are in urgent need of novel and appropriate treatments to avoid the development of OA. Regenerative medicine is offering the new therapeutic strategies for irreversible meniscal or cartilaginous disorders, aiming at restoring or replacing the destroyed cells or tissues by tissue engineering technique. Recently, with the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique in the field of regenerative medicine, it is possible to regenerate meniscus and articular cartilage by combining 3D printing technique with tissue engineering. Despite of some challenge, the developing 3D printing technology is now coordinating with materials science to bring new prospects for regenerating complete meniscus and cartilage.