Magnetic Nanomaterials: Advanced Tools for Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Regeneration

Abstract

After decades of basic, translational, and clinical research, cartilage regeneration therapies are still anticipated to impact the clinical landscape consistently. However, biological joint resurfacing and the regeneration of functional, integrated cartilage capable of wholly and permanently restoring joint function is still unavailable. Albeit structurally relatively simple, the cartilage extracellular matrix has a complex function in joint organ biomechanics, developmental processes, and adult life tissue turnover, repair, disease, and aging. The intricated cross-talk extracellular matrix-cellular component and its bidirectional role in maintaining tissue homeostasis are only beginning to be elucidated. Magnetic responsive nanomaterials (MNMs) have proven to be versatile tools for drug delivery, scaffold fabrication, alignment, and orienting cell distribution and cell fate. Due to their responsiveness to an applied magnetic field, MNMs can be remotely actuated for scaffold cell positioning, scaffold fabrication, or the delivery of touchless mechanical stimulation. In addition, MNMs possess excellent biocompatibility and are degradable through cellular iron storage metabolic pathways. Current directions for using MNMs to augment tissue engineering that recommends them as essential tools for fabricating bio-functional cartilage grafts are presented and discussed.