Allogeneic chondrocyte implantation: What is stopping it from being a standard of care?

Abstract

Allogenic chondrocyte implantation refers to harvesting of donor chondrocytes, growing them in culture plates with growth factors and implanting them with/without biocompatible scaffolds into cartilage defects. Despite its huge potential, it suffers several drawbacks with respect to source, biomaterial, preservation, cell-culture conditions as well as clinical utility. Through this letter, we attempt to provide an account of these limitations that are stopping it from being a standard of care.