Mechanically functional engineered cartilage

Researchers have mimicked mesenchymal condensation using a cellular self-assembly method to successfully generate centimetre-sized anatomically-shaped cartilage from human mesenchymal stem cells.  The engineered tissue was stratified with physiologically relevant values of Young’s modulus and co-efficient of friction.  In vitro data suggested the method could be used to repair cartilage defects.

Large, stratified and mechanically functional human cartilage grown in vitro by mesenchymal condensation, S. Bhumiritana et al, PNAS, doi/10.1073/pnas.1324050111

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/04/25/1324050111.full