Cell Sources for Cartilage Regeneration - From Basic Science to Clinical Reality

Regenerating articular cartilage is a challenge for orthopedic surgery. Advanced therapeutical medicinal products (ATMP, including gene therapy, cell therapy, tissue engineering products) are offering promising solutions to structurally and functionally replace missing or degenerated musculoskeletal tissues. The paper reviews current cell based clinical available procedures as well as potential cell sources for cartilage regeneration. The compulsory steps in developing and implementing advanced medicine products, their particularities related to technological requirements, conceptual specificity, are stressed out. An important guideline for conceiving and productization of regenerative medicine therapeutical solution are European Union regulatory agreements for ATMP development and marketing authorization.